Thousands of residents across the Mid-South found themselves in the dark this morning after severe thunderstorms ripped through the region, leaving a swath of power outages. Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW), the area's utility provider, confirmed that over 31,000 customers lost power due to the tumultuous weather conditions.

As of 9:26 a.m., MLGW's outage map pinpointed the extent of the impact, showing outages spanning several neighborhoods. The brunt of the storm's fury was felt in the northeast areas of the country, where MLGW noted substations were damaged. This was the case, according to information obtained by FOX13 Memphis. By morning's peak, the number of affected customers had reached 37,000, reported by The Commercial Appeal.

In response to the widespread outages, MLGW has assured customers that their crews are working expeditiously to restore power. For those still without electricity, the company has set up a hotline at 901-544-6500 where they can report their outage. As the cleanup and power restoration efforts continue, residents are cautioned to remain patient and report any downed power lines or electrical hazards to authorities.

Particularly hard-hit areas included Bartlett and Cordova, with other parts of Shelby County also feeling the effects. "MLGW says that are aware of current outages and will work as quickly as possible to restore power until all customers are back on," detailed a report by Action News 5. The utility company's diligence in addressing the issue is expected, but the restoration timeline remains uncertain as assessments are ongoing.

With forecasts predicting unstable weather may continue, residents are advised to stay informed on updates and take necessary precautions. The local community, hit by an unexpected surge of nature's force, now looks to recovery and the return of normalcy as MLGW works around the clock to illuminate streets, homes, and businesses once more.