Weather service: Storm system creating 'extremely dangerous situation'

An "extremely, extremely dangerous situation."

That's how a meteorologist from the National Weather Service describes tonight's wave of severe weather, producing strong thunderstorms, heavy winds and tornadic activity throughout Southeast Missouri.

In Missouri, Elsinore and Silva have sustained major areas of damage, with reports of people trapped and injuries.

Beverly Poole, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., says those powerful storms are sweeping into the region,

"Perry County had very strong circulation," Poole said radar indicating a powerful storm system sweeping through Perry County, where a tornado warning was in effect just before 6 p.m.

A Perry County Sheriff's Department official wasn't sure whether there was damage at this hour, but deputies are on the roads checking.

Butler and Wayne counties have been hardest hit so far it appears, and they have been hit repeatedly, Poole said.

"It's been very unique tonight," she said. "We've had several reports of debris falling out of the sky from as far as 10 miles away from where the storms occurring. This is an extremely, extremely dangerous situation."

The weather service received a report of downed trees in Bollinger County with winds up to 80 miles per hour. Debris was also reported falling out of the sky there just after 5 p.m.

The National Weather Service forecast the worst of the severe weather will remain in the region through midnight.