Strong storms moving through Alabama left thousands of people without power and forced schools to delay opening as a precaution.
Alabama Power Co. said about 7,000 homes and businesses were in the dark early Tuesday, mostly in the western part of the state.
Officials say numerous trees are down near Fayette and in heavily wooded Winston County, but no injuries are reported.
Numerous school systems delayed opening because of what forecasters say is a high risk of damaging winds. The University of Alabama also opened late.
Forecasters say winds up to 60 mph are possible in south Alabama as a cold front collides with warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters say there's a high risk of damaging winds in central Alabama and a chance of tornadoes.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
