Large hail, thousands without power as Ala. gets severe weather - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Severe weather moved rapidly across the state Monday afternoon and evening. Now, reports of damage are coming in.

Alabama Power is reporting that some communities will be without power for days.

In a 5:30 p.m. update on their website, the power company announced they had topped out around 196,000 people who lost power due to the severe weather.

"The damage is extensive, and extremely widespread… Some customers in areas where there is heavy or complicated damage may not get power until later this week," Alabama Power said on their website.

The company is bringing in workers from other states to help restore power. They say they already have crews working on repairs and doing damage assessment.

As of 5:30 p.m., the customers without service were in the following areas:

• 95,000 to the east of Birmingham (Anniston, Gadsden, Oneonta)
• 68,000 in metro Birmingham
• 31,000 to the west of Birmingham (Jasper, Fayette, Carbon Hill)
• 1,700 to the south (Clanton, Alexander City)
• 200 in the Tallassee area

Alabama Power is issuing updates on their website at alabamapowernews.com and on Twitter at @alabamapower.

Numerous reports and photos of large hail are coming in as well.  See the slideshow above.

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