Strong storms that moved across much of Alabama on Monday plunged thousands in the dark and also pummeled the state with hail, high winds and heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service said the strongest of the storms had wind gusts nearing 60 mph and there also was hail the size of quarters.
Authorities in Colbert County Monday afternoon said they responded to reports of downed trees near the northern state line, and officials in Lauderdale County have reported street flooding and dime-size hail. A dog was killed in Madison County after its shelter was struck by lightning and caught fire.
Alabama Power officials say some 200,000 customers were intially without power at the height of the storm, but they went to work swiftly to restore electricity.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.