NEW: Forecaster says spotters reported the twister's path as up to a mile wide People trapped after 20 to 30 houses destroyed, Yazoo City fire chief says Twister touches down near Valley Park, Mississippi Power lines down, little other damage in Issaquena County, dispatcher says
(CNN) -- A tornado almost a mile wide tore through Mississippi on Saturday, raking cities from the central western border with Louisiana northeastward to Alabama, the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi, confirmed.
Forecaster Mark McAllister told CNN that the path of the twister, as reported by spotters, stretched from a half-mile to a mile wide. The tornado touched down in the towns of Valley Park, Yazoo City, Durant, and was headed toward Starkville, he said.
In Yazoo City, Fire Chief Roy Wilson told CNN that between 20 to 30 houses were destroyed, and said some people were trapped inside structures. Wilson said he didn't yet have confirmed numbers on injuries.
iReport: Watch hail hammer Mississippi
"It's in pretty bad shape so far," he said of the city.
Linda Green, a dispatcher with the Issaquena County Sheriff's Department, told CNN that there was minimal damage in the area around Valley Park, and a few power lines were down.
No injuries have been reported in Valley Park after the twister ripped through around 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. ET), she added.
Valley Park is in Issaquena County, while Yazoo City is located in Yazoo County. Issaquena County is in the western part of the state, north of Vicksburg.
The entire state is under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. (9 p.m. ET), according to the National Weather Service.
The storm system struck Louisiana before it moved into Mississippi. A Tallulah, Louisiana, police dispatcher said a chemical plant in the city had been damaged, but could not give further details
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quote:Originally posted by jordanreed: If I were you, I'd be a little more concerned....he's the only guy that takes care of you around here....lol
Well the way you talk Jordan you think you are taking care of me too. You speak as if you are spreading the gospel direct from the messiah!
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quote:Originally posted by glassman: so tonight they are showing us the same weather pattern that got us last week....
it's not for sure yet, but it looks like a replay
the levee just failed in Memphis due to 10"+ of rain per hour. they are ordering evacuations. the biggest hospital in memphis is closed to all but but severe traumu- no labor and delivery services, and i haven't heard of any tornadoes yet but we are under a watch all day...
the Derby is swampy mess... i'm picking the bigges' fattes' pig in the race
i passed on an outdoor festival in Memphis today but i'm doing one i really like next week, so less hope dis pattern breaks
it's a normal May day in the deep souff
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