Severe thunderstorm outlooks issued by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center can show a threat level from 1 to 5. They are used to show how widespread and intense severe weather could be on a given day.

A local body shop owner said there are ways to avoid spending money unnecessarily, but having a plan in place is most important to protect your car.

Over two dozen reports of thunderstorm wind damage or high wind gusts have been received by the National Weather Service in the western Carolinas and far southern Virginia so far Wednesday. Most of those are for downed trees or power lines, some on houses.