By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
A cold front blew its way into Lafayette County Monday evening, bringing heavy rains, a tornado warning and one heck of a lightning show.
According to Lafayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Quarles, the tornado warning was put out by the National Weather Service after meteorologist spotted rotation in the clouds above Tula.
“Just because circulation shows up on the radar, it doesn’t mean it’s touching the ground or visible,” Quarles said. “After the warning went out for Tula, Yocona, Denmark and Lafayette Springs, we didn’t get any reports of damage or someone saying they saw a tornado.”
However, the strong gusts knocked down a few trees around the county and along County Road 445, which left many without power for several hours.
The storms started at about 7 p.m. and rolled into Lafayette County until about midnight.
Two homes were reportedly struck by lightning, Quarles said.
A home on Fudgetown Road suffered some damage after the lightning hit the house, traveled through the rebar and busted up concrete.
“That caused some smoke and dust so the fire department was called; however, there was no fire,” Quarles said.
According to the NWS, hail was spotted in Panola, Coahoma and Quitman County.
The cold front did manage to cool things down for Oxford, however, with a high of 82 expected Tuesday and a high of 85 on Wednesday and Thursday, with lows in the mid-60s throughout the week.
