Cleanup is now underway after severe thunderstorms swept across the South Bend area Tuesday afternoon, prompting tornado warnings and other weather alerts across northern Indiana and southwest Michigan.

The storms resulted in reports of downed tree branches, limbs, full trees topped, trees on top of homes and electric lines down. By 2 p.m., Indiana Michigan Power reported more than 18,000 customers in Michiana without electricity. NIPSCO Electric also reported tens of thousands of customers in the dark.

Track Indiana Michigan Power outages here

Track NIPSCO Electric power outages here

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning Tuesday, Aug. 11, for an area that included St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall and northwestern Kosciusko counties in Indiana, along with Berrien and Cass counties in Michigan. The warning was in effect until 1:30 p.m. EDT.

The warning came as a powerful line of storms moved through Michiana, bringing the potential for damaging winds, heavy rainfall, hail and tornadoes. Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service said the greatest severe-weather threat would arrive with a storm complex during the afternoon. Forecasters also warned rainfall rates could exceed one to two inches per hour in some locations.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was canceled shortly after the threat of severe weather ended. A Flood Watch remained in effect through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be
  possible.

* WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana, including the following
  areas, Adams, Allen IN, Blackford, Cass IN, De Kalb, Eastern St.
  Joseph IN, Elkhart, Fulton IN, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Lagrange,
  Marshall, Miami, Noble, Northern Kosciusko, Northern La Porte,
  Pulaski, Southern Kosciusko, Southern La Porte, Starke, Steuben,
  Wabash, Wells, Western St. Joseph IN, White and Whitley and
  northwest Ohio, including the following areas, Allen OH, Defiance,
  Fulton OH, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ this evening.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
  creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
  Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - Pockets of heavy rainfall have impacted portions of the watch
    area over the past couple of days. Additional heavy rain is
    forecasted this afternoon and evening with rainfall rates of
    1 to 2 inches per hour or more possible.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared
to take action should flooding develop.

The storms were part of a larger severe-weather system moving across northern Illinois and Indiana. Powerful winds caused damage and widespread power outages farther west, while tornado warnings were issued as the storms pushed eastward.

Residents were urged to remain weather-aware as the storms moved through the region and to seek shelter immediately when warnings were issued.

The National Weather Service had not immediately confirmed whether a tornado touched down in the South Bend area.

Damage assessments were expected to provide additional information following the storms.