Strong storms cut across state ahead of cold front

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Updated: January 17, 2012 11:02PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms cutting across Indiana ahead of a cold front prompted tornado warnings across the southern parts of the state.

The National Weather Service issued several tornado warnings Tuesday morning as severe storms marched southeast across Indiana, although there were no immediate reports of confirmed tornado touchdowns. The tornado warnings later expired.

But the winter thunderstorms ahead of the cold front bringing sharply colder air and a temporary end to Tuesday morning’s temperatures in the 50s dumped heavy rain across parts of central and southern Indiana. Those areas remained under a flood advisory warning of the risks of small stream flooding.

Scattered power outages were reported across the state’s southern half, with Duke Energy saying that about 900 of its customers without power due to downed power lines.