Thousands Lose Power After Strong Storms Sweep Through Mid-South

MEMPHIS, TN — A line of intense thunderstorms tore through the Mid-South on Thursday evening, bringing damaging winds, torrential rain, and widespread power outages. By early Friday morning, over 1,400 Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers were still without electricity, particularly in southeast Memphis and Cordova.

According to the FOX13 Memphis outage report, the storms toppled at least 16 power poles along Shelby Drive between Getwell and Tchulahoma roads. Cleanup and repair operations were still underway Friday morning, with crews working through severe damage to restore service.

Poles Downed, Roads Closed, But No Injuries Reported

A dramatic scene unfolded near Getwell Road when a loud “boom” signaled the collapse of the utility poles, according to one local worker who was nearby at the time.

“I hear this boom and I come out and see what’s going on,” he told FOX13. “I came outside, and I can’t really go nowhere now. And then, it was just boom! The lights went out.”

The Memphis Police Department closed Shelby Drive in both directions between Getwell and Tchulahoma during the evening, as MLGW reported 13 to 16 poles down in that zone. One of the poles reportedly fell onto a vehicle, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Continued Cleanup and Storm Response

By 4:30 a.m. Friday, major outages remained, especially across southeast Memphis. MLGW teams were still actively repairing power lines and evaluating structural damage caused by wind gusts and fallen poles.

There is currently no confirmed estimate for when all power and traffic flow will be fully restored.

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