Tornadoes Are More Powerful Than We Realize

An active weather pattern brought rounds of rain and thunderstorms to portions of the central and eastern U.S. early- to midweek.

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The combination of a cold front slicing eastward, warm and humid air was drawn northward, and a vigorous southward plunge of the jet stream provided the ingredients necessary to support severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain in portions of the South and Midwest midweek. 

(MORE: Tornado Central)

Wednesday

A tornado touched down in Fairborn, Ohio, just east of Dayton, Wednesday evening. There were some reports of minor damage in the area in association with the twister.

Damage from a radar-confirmed tornado was reported Wednesday in the area of Prosperity, South Carolina, or about 45 miles northwest of Columbia.

At least four houses were damaged one mile southeast of Prosperity.

A potential long-track tornado ripped through north-central North Carolina late Wednesday afternoon causing damage to one elementary school in Yadkinville.

Reports of damage extended from Yadkin County northeastward to the North Carolina/Virginia border. The tornado may have crossed into Henry and Patrick counties in Virginia. 

(LATEST NEWS: Damage Reported in Georgia, Carolinas as Severe Weather Batters the Southeast)

Numerous trees were downed with the storms in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park midday Wednesday, as well as in Levy County in Florida.

Persistent heavy rain produced flash flooding in eastern Indiana, with at least one home surrounded by water in Sulphur Springs early Wednesday afternoon. Florida also saw heavy rain as 3.70 inches were measured at Jacksonville International Airport as of late Wednesday afternoon.

Tuesday

There were six reports of tornadoes in southern Georgia Tuesday afternoon, including one confirmed tornado that tracked just north of Tybee Island.

Three tornadoes were reported in North Carolina, one of which destroyed a volunteer fire department building in Autryville, another overturning a mobile home near Salemburg.

(LATEST NEWS: Damage, Tornadoes Reported as Severe Weather Moves Through the South)

If that weren't enough, the streets of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, filled with knee-deep water Tuesday.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Severe Weather, Flooding Hits the Southeast (PHOTOS)