SEVERE STORMS LASH AREA

A line of severe thunderstorms with strong winds, heavy lighting and large hail lashed parts of the Southeast Missouri Ozark region early Friday evening, causing extensive damage in some areas.

The Missouri Highway Patrol at Poplar Bluff said baseball-size hail was reported in the Centerville area in Reynolds County. Heavy storm damage also was reported in the same area, the patrol said.

The patrol said reports of hail ranged from pea to golf ball size in parts of Reynolds, Iron, and St. Francois counties.

Pea-sized hail and heavy lightning was also reported as the storm moved through Perry and Cape Girardeau counties, but there were no reports of storm damage, according to the Cape Girardeau County Office of Emergency Preparedness.

The storms moved through Cape Girardeau with only moderate rain and some lighting and no reports of hail or storm damage.

The thunderstorms delayed the start of several high school football games in the area for about an hour because of lightning.

The severe weather occurred ahead of a cold front that is expected to bring back more typical fall weather over the weekend.