Loyola University was spared any known damage from an early-morning tornado that stormed through parts of Jefferson and Orleans parishes.

The storm, which touched down around 3 a.m. knocked out power for about 25,000 people in the metro area, according to Entergy. Loyola is in that number. Power is on from the downtown side of State Street, two blocks east of campus

Because of the uncertainty of how long power will be out, classes have been cancelled untill at least noon.

The National Weather Service has confirmed the storm was an F2-strenght tornado. Tornados in this part of the country are typically in the F0 to F2 range, the weather service said, but can at times grow to monster F5 storms that are commonly found in the midwest.

An F2 hurricane has winds in the range of 113-157 mph, about equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, where winds can vary between 111-155 mph.

The storm began on the West bank in Westwego and cutwhat Mayor Ray Nagin called a “clear path” to New Orleans’ lakefront.

One fatality has been reported in a lakefront neighborhood. At least six other people have been taken to area hospitals, Nagin said at a 10:30 a.m. press conference.

City leaders have set up a command post in the Riverbend neighborhood near the intersection of Carrollton and St. Charles avenues, near where the storm began after crossing the Mississippi River.

Across the city, life goes on as normal, save for a few traffic lights not working. Skies are blue with partly cloudy skies and a cool breeze blowing at times.

Stay with The Maroon Online for the latest updates.