A local news team in northern Mississippi abruptly ended their broadcast Monday afternoon and evacuated to the basement as a tornado approached the area.

"It's a damaging tornado, on the ground right now," the WTVA-TV meteorologist says. "Significant tornado touchdown."

Moments later he ordered an immediate evacuation.

"Basement now!" he shouts. "Basement now. Let's go, now!"

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties from the Tupelo tornado, but images posted online show massive damage.

—

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter