From staff reports

A severe thunderstorm whipped through Middle Georgia Thursday night, knocking down trees and power lines and dumping hail in some parts of the midstate.

Power lines were down all across Macon and Bibb County, Macon police said, and some roads were blocked by fallen trees or limbs as well.

Thousands of people lost power as the storm moved through the midstate after 7:30 p.m. Wind gusts of about 75 mph were reported.

Trees fell in the Lake Wildwood area of Bibb County, and other parts of town had problems with downed power lines or trees, including the Shirley Hills neighborhood off Gray Highway, Forest Hill Road and Zebulon Road.

Much of Middle Georgia was under a tornado watch through 10 p.m.