A line of severe thunderstorms arrived earlier than expected in the coverage area last night leaving a trail of damage.

The line of storms was expected to enter the area around 11 p.m. central on the Plateau. Instead it picked up speed and started into the area just after 6 p.m. Around 7 p.m. Cumberland, White, Bledsoe and Van Buren counties went under a severe thunderstorm warning for wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour and heavy rainfall. The line of storms hit Crossville around 7:30 p.m. and left about as fast as it hit. The National Weather Service said not only was the wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour with the line of storms but that was the speed it was traveling heading east. Shortly after impacting Cumberland County, Roane, McMinn, Meigs and Morgan County went under a severe thunderstorm warning.

The storm line started to fall apart as it got into Loudon and Knox County because of lower temperatures there.

Here are preliminary reports of storm damage from last night:

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The storm knocked power out to over 3500 VEC customers in Cumberland County last night. As of 4:30 this morning, crews are working to restore power to around 700.

Pea sized hail was also reported in several areas of Cumberland County.

The damage in Cumberland County was widespread. Here are just some of the reports:

Tree down on Glad Creek in area of Never Fail.

Tree down on Highway 70 North near dirt track

Tree down in Highway 70 North at Little Brads

Tree down on 100 block of Carter Town Road

Tree down Storie and Stanley Street

Power lines down on West Lake Rd in Pleasant Hill

Tree and lines down Genesis Road at Roy Mccoy Road

Tree blocking one lane of travel on Browntown Road near Highway 70 West

Power line down on Wakefield Street

Tree across 2496 Chestnut Hill Road

Light pole down at 107 Ed Houston Road

Trees and power lines down at Glade Creek at Ravenscroft

Tree down 70 North @ UT Experimental Farm

Tree down Wildlife Lane and Genesis Road

Trees and power lines down 5 miles outbound on Genesis Road

Trees and power lines down 7500 block of Taylors Chapel Road

Tree down on Conrad Lane

FENTRESS COUNTY

Several trees down all over the county and some flooding reported.

LOUDON COUNTY

Trees knocked down over State Highway 95, Matlock Bend and Jackson Ferry Road

MCMINN COUNTY

Tree was blocking County Road 700 near Eastanallee Church.

MORGAN COUNTY

Several trees blown down in the county from high winds

ROANE COUNTY

Tree down on Harriman Highway, which was cleared around 10:30 p.m. Several other trees blown down in the county

WHITE COUNTY

Numerous trees reported down in the county, especially between Sparta and the White/Cumberland County line. A roof was reportedly blow off a structure in the county.