7 hurt in Oklahoma tornado; storms slam South

NEW ORLEANS -- Thunderstorms rumbled across parts of the South on Thursday, bringing the threat of possible tornadoes, a day after at least seven people were injured when severe storms spawned multiple tornado touchdowns in northeastern Oklahoma.

Hail and damaging winds were moving across the lower Mississippi River Valley, and the National Weather Service said the rain could produce flash flooding in some areas.

The weather service's Storm Prediction Center said the worst threat of tornadoes and large hail was in northern Mississippi and Alabama, along with parts of Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Forecasters said more than 8 million people would be at an "enhanced" risk of severe weather in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.

The National Weather Service said it will investigate storm damage in Lamar County, Mississippi, that may have been caused by a tornado Thursday morning.

Heavy rain in the Mississippi Delta caused some widespread flooding. Sunflower County, Mississippi, emergency manager Ben Grant said about two dozen homes in Moorhead, Mississippi, were evacuated.

In Oklahoma, a tornado touched down and lifted up numerous times Wednesday night as it swept through the northern Tulsa and Owasso areas, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Jankowski.

About a square mile of a mostly residential area sustained damage, with one home destroyed and other buildings sustaining roof and structural damage, Tulsa Fire Department spokesman Stan May said.