Several cars were blown off the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, on Monday morning when a furious storm swept through the area.
The eastbound Union Pacific train was traveling at approximately 4 mph when the containers, which were empty, fell behind some restaurants along Clearview Parkway in Elmwood, CBS New Orleans affiliate WWL-TV reports. The area is roughly 10 miles east of New Orleans.
National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Hill confirmed to The Huffington Post Monday afternoon that no injuries were reported from the bridge incident or elsewhere in the area.
"A lot of storms came through really fast, upwards of 50 to 60 miles per hour and strong, straight-line winds upwards of 70 miles per hour within those storms," Hill said of the storm system, known by meteorologists as a mesoscale convective complex.
Thousands of buildings in Jefferson Parish were without power as of 1:30 p.m., WWL-TV reported. Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge canceled classes for the day, according to Gulf Live.
Despite the damage, Hill said the storm is typical for spring weather in that area.
"Peak severe weather season in the area is April and May, so this [storm] is not out of the question," Hill said. "It's been quiet over the last year or so, but this is more in line of what we're used to. So, nothing new to us."
"But," Hill added, "It was a very, very impressive storm."
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