Large tornado causes damage across Alabama

Severe weather continues Thursday as authorities survey damage in small towns around Alabama.

A tornado hit small communities south of Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday and inflicted extensive damage, including to numerous homes and a civic centre, police said, as a giant supercell is expected to spawn further twisters in the US south. Utility lines had also been downed along Highways 119 and 31 in Pelham, a city of about 20,000 people about 30km (20 miles) south of Birmingham, the Pelham Police Department said on Twitter. “Extensive damage in Crosscreek community,” the police department said in a second tweet. “Please stay off the road and do not go into tornado damaged areas.”