Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

COLUMBIA (WACH) -- A line of severe thunderstorms rolled through South Carolina producing various damage and two tornado reports Monday night. 

One of those twisters has been confirmed by the National Weather Service.  They say an EF1 tornado touched down near Silverstreet in Newberry County.

Crews worked to restore electricity after that line of storms moved across the Carolinas.

Duke Energy reported more than 3,500 customers without service early Tuesday in the western Carolinas. Problems were worst around Hickory and Statesville in North Carolina and Anderson and Greenwood in South Carolina.

Progress Energy and South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. reported only scattered problems from Monday night's storms.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

National Weather Service meteorologists are investigating reports of two tornados in Newberry County, one near Prosperity and the other near Little Mountain. Sheriff Lee Foster reported trees were down and the roof was off a store.

Columbia's National Weather Service Office received word from a local ham radio operator in the Stoney Hill area that a possible tornado touched down.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center also listed a report from Little Mountain of a possible tornado.  No injuries or fatalities were reported with these possible tornadoes.   

There were also various reports of trees down north of Silverstreet on Trinity Church Road.  The local NWS office in investigating.

Aside from tornado reports, SCE&G is reporting hundreds of power outages in the Central and Northwestern Midlands.  There are also various reports of downed trees.  Most of the damage is indicative of strong winds.  According to SkyWACH Weather Anchor Justin Kier, some of the winds were in excess of 60 miles per hour.

The line of storms is moving east of the Midlands.  The Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the Midlands expired at 10pm. 

After the front passed, we are seeing a drop in daytime temperatures of around 20 degrees Tuesday.  Tuesday night will feature lows dropping near the freezing mark.  Forecasters remind viewers to bring in all plants and animals to keep from freezing.

Remember to rely on our Weather Page for the latest radar and forecasts in the event of severe weather and send your severe weather pictures to mojo@wach.com.

In preparation for future severe weather Tuesday the state tested its tornado warning system at 9 a.m.  Read more about the drill here.