At least nine tornadoes reported in Southeast; Masters event canceled

April 6 (UPI) -- Severe weather in the U.S. Southeast generated lightning that caused fires and reports of at least nine tornadoes as the Mid-Atlantic prepares for more strong thunderstorms Thursday.

Officials said there were at least nine reported tornadoes on Wednesday: seven in Georgia, one in South Carolina and one in Indiana.

Masters organizers stopped play and canceled the Par 3 contest at Augusta National after inclement weather twice forced evacuations.

A possible tornado in Georgia caused damage to structures in Weston and Benevolence on Wednesday. Near Florence, S.C., a tree fell onto a home and injured a child who was sent to a hospital. One person in McMinnville, Tenn., was injured when strong winds destroyed a mobile home.

Reported lightning in the Southeast injured three people in Navarre, Fla.; caused a house fire near Metter, Ga.; destroyed a barn near Hendersonville, S.C.; and caused a fire in Shady Forest, N.C.

The National Weather Service warns that strong to severe thunderstorms associated with the weather system will move into the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday. The NWS said the storms will likely bring at least 2 inches of rain, which could cause flooding in the region.

"The biggest threat will be damaging winds and large hail, but isolated tornadoes will be possible. Heavy rains may produce flash flooding in the northern Mid-Atlantic," the NWS said.

The NWS's Storm Prediction Center said organized severe storms are expected in parts of the Mid-Atlantic states, mainly during the hours of Thursday morning and early afternoon. The SPC said there is a 2 percent to 5 percent probability of tornadoes in northeast South Carolina, central and east North Carolina, east Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, southeast Pennsylvania and south New Jersey.

"The potential exists for tornadoes and a few swaths of damaging winds during this time frame," the SPC said.