Winds blow down tree limbs, causing power outages

Although they did not last long, the winds that accompanied the storms that hit Cape Girardeau County on Saturday caused many households to lose electricity.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service around 4 p.m. Saturday for Cape Girardeau County, calling for heavy rain and strong winds. In Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City the weather caused tree limbs to fall off and hit power lines.

Jackson Police Department communications officer Chris Wendel said Jackson homes started losing power around 3:20 p.m., but by 8 p.m. most households had their electricity back on. In Scott City, it was much the same story, with most of the power outages experienced on the west end of town. There were also several downed trees in the central part of the county, according to the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Cape Girardeau police Cpl. David Sanders said the power outages in town occurred between 4 and 4:30 p.m. in two areas.