Storms with winds of up to 100 mph damage houses, knock out power to 262,000 statewide

Storms blew through the area this morning with winds of up to 100 mph, toppling trees onto houses and roadways and knocking out power to roughly 263,000 homes and businesses statewide.

"The damage is widespread," said Don Roybel of the Jefferson County EMA. "We won't know how much until we get out there."

There have been reports of people trapped in cars and houses, he said, with several injuries. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reported receiving 145 emergency calls in one hour.

Bessemer, Cahaba Heights, Center Point, Vestavia Hills, Irondale, Homewood and downtown Birmingham are among the areas reporting heavy damage.

Heavy winds in Cahaba Heights before 6 a.m. caused extensive tree damage, including several uprooted. Some houses were damaged and streets were blocked.

Here are the power outage totals in the major areas affected:
Jefferson and Shelby counties- 155,000
West Alabama (Bibb, Walker and Tuscaloosa counties)- 59,000
East Alabama (Anniston, Oxford, Gadsden) - 48,000

Showers and thunderstorms, some severe with large hail and damaging winds, are expected today and throughout the night. The high today will be near 83.

Thursday is expected to be calm and sunny.

Follow developments in the al.com Weather Center.

Traffic is backed up on U.S. 280 on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, after severe storms swept across the Birmingham area. (The Birmingham News/Michelle Campbell)