INDIANAPOLIS -- Several tornado touchdowns were reported Tuesday evening south and east of Indianapolis -- the worst apparently in Rush County -- as severe thunderstorms fired up near dark.

Police in Rush County told the National Weather Service that several homes were heavily damaged or destroyed near the town of Moscow, about 10 miles southwest of Rushville. Officers said there was an unknown number of injuries and numerous people missing.

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Police reported that a tornado swept through Edinburgh at about 9:45 p.m. Spotters reported that debris was in the air and that power transformers were blowing, but only one minor injury was reported. Edinburgh Police Chief Pat Pankey told 6News about 10 minutes before the storm struck that he could see something that could possibly be a tornado headed toward the city.

At least one car was damaged at a Shell gas station in Edinburgh when the gas pumps were pulled out of the ground by strong winds, according to John Jekel, who called in from the gas station near exit 80 off Interstate 65.

Storm spotters near St. Paul, in Decatur County, reported a tornado that touched the ground several times between Waldron and St. Paul after 9 p.m. Police in Decatur County reported downed trees and power lines, but no injuries.

A 6News viewer sent in a video of that storm from along Interstate 74.

Another possible tornado was reported in far northeastern Brown County, near Peoga. Law enforcement officers reported damage with that storm. A storm spotter reported a tornado on the ground in Princes Lakes, in far southern Johnson County at about 9:30 p.m.

Utility poles were downed and a house was reported destroyed on Indiana 244 about two miles south of Rushville, in Rush County.

A tornado watch was posted for most of central and southern Indiana until 3 a.m. Wednesday as more thunderstorms fired up during the late evening hours.

Several rounds of thunderstorms swept through Indiana earlier in the day Tuesday as a vigorous storm system bore down on the state, packing strong winds and at least two tornadoes.

Numerous severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in the region as a fast-moving line of storms pummeled portions of south-central Indiana early Tuesday afternoon.

A weak tornado briefly touched down a few miles south of Waverly, in Morgan County, ripping apart trees and bending power poles near Indiana 37 and Big Bend Road. The National Weather Service rated that tornado an EF-0 on the intensity scale, with winds of 85 mph.

"I was in the house taking a shower," said Debbie Stringer. "In about five seconds, it was over with. It just blew in with big loud thumps and the lights went out."

Indiana Business College in Columbus was damaged when an air conditioning unit was blown off, leaving a hole in the roof as the storm moved through. About 45 students and employees were inside at the time.

"My big thing was I had to get my students safe," said Anita Miller of Indiana Business College. "Afterwards, I thought … what happened?"

A storm spotter reported downed power lines and roofs off some buildings on Rocky Ford Road, north of Columbus.

A tornado also touched down before noon northeast of Bedford, in Lawrence County. Damage to houses and trees was reported on Bartlettsville Road and Todd Lane, along with Mount Pleasant Road and Wallner Quarry Road. Information about the intensity of that storm was not immediately available.

Some thunderstorm wind damage was also reported south of Bloomington, in Monroe County.

Several trees were downed and a house and barn were damaged near Bloomfield, in Greene County.

Flash flooding was reported in Clay, Putnam, Vermillion and Parke counties.

Strong thunderstorms that rolled across the state during the morning hours were a precursor to stronger activity later in the day.

Thunderstorms are also in the forecast for Wednesday, and some of those could also be strong to severe.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction had placed a large swath of central Indiana in a moderate risk zone for severe weather Tuesday.

The stormy weather pattern is expected to continue through the week, with more chances of showers and thunderstorms and warm temperatures.

Stay with Storm Team 6 and TheIndyChannel.com for the latest severe weather information.