01:54 Scattered vs. Isolated Thunderstorms The Weather Channel meteorologist Jen Carfagno explains the difference between Scattered and Isolated thunderstorms.

Severe weather swept across the South Tuesday and Wednesday, spawning at least six confirmed tornadoes that killed at least five people, injured at least 50 others and destroyed homes.

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Mississippi was particularly hard hit Tuesday. Four of the five reported deaths took place in the state; three in Marion County and two in Jones County, according to local officials.

Survey teams from the NWS analyzed damage from a tornado near Columbia, the seat of Marion County. The team rated the damage as consistent with an EF3 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Damage from the Jones County tornado, near Laurel, has been rated EF2 with maximum winds estimated at 125 mph.

Eric Carpenter, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Jackson, Mississippi, said it is not yet clear whether the two swaths of tornado damage came from separate tornadoes, or one long-track tornado.

"Regardless of how many tornadoes touched down, Tuesday has become the deadliest December tornado event in Mississippi since 38 died in the Vicksburg tornado of Dec. 5, 1953," said Nick Wiltgen, weather.com senior meteorologist. He said the last December tornado to kill two or more people in Mississippi occurred in 1967, according to NOAA's official storm database.

(MORE: Deadliest December Tornadoes in U.S. History)

In all, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center relayed a total of 70 storm reports across the Deep South on Tuesday, comprising 37 wind damage reports, 19 large hail reports, and 14 reports of tornadoes. As survey crews in the field confirm tornado damage paths, some of those reports will likely prove to have been from the same tornado, so the final tornado count is likely to be smaller.

Mississippi

Gov. Phil Bryant issued a state of emergency Tuesday for Marion and Jones counties, along with other parts of the state affected by severe weather.

At around 2:30 p.m. local time, strong circulation with a debris signature was spotted on radar moving toward the town of Columbia, in Marion County.

The tornado damaged businesses, flipped cars and toppled power lines onto U.S. 98, closing the road for several hours. Three people were killed in Marion County: one in a trailer park, 71-year-old Mary Jane Sartin, and the other in a strip mall, 33-year-old Amber Sumrall, according to the Marion County Sherriff.

The third victim died Saturday morning in an Alabama Hospital, according to Marion County Coroner Norma Williamson, KDAM-TV reported. The victim, Mickey Hudson, was the CEO of Hudson's Inc. HattiesburgAmerican reported Hudson was a longtime supporter and one of the backbones of the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles athletics.

Meanwhile, Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge said the two were killed when a mobile home was destroyed, WAFB-TV said. WLOX.com identified those victims as Leonardo Drummond, 45, and Josey White, 40.

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The storm will lead to an extensive cleanup effort on Christmas Eve in Columbia, a town of about 6,400. Businesses, such as Te Davi Florist on U.S. 98, saw their buildings damaged and merchandise blown away.

"We were here, and when the sirens went off the second time, my mom said we needed to leave because she had a bad feeling, and we left," said Melissa McKenzie, owner of the flower shop, in a Hattiesburg American report. "I had my son with me about 10 minutes after we left. To have this happen — this (store) was a dream of mine."

The Marion General Hospital reported damage and a loss of power, which hampered the hospital's ability to treat patients. Eight people were transferred to a hospital in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as a result. All told, 50 people were treated at the hospital in the wake of the tornado, according to Marion General spokeswoman Millie Swann.

Marion County Emergency Management Agency Director Aaron Greer reported people were still trapped in their homes near U.S. 98 and Mississippi 13 Tuesday night, Hattiesburg American said.

Mississippi Power reported that nearly all customers were without power in Columbia Wednesday morning, but surface was largely restored by the end of the day Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

Louisiana

An EF2 tornado touched down in Amite City, Louisiana, knocking down trees and power lines near the intersection of Highway 16 and Highway 1054, the NWS said. The agency's storm survey estimated the twister's top winds at 115 mph.

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Numerous trees were uprooted and a house was damaged when its roof was ripped off in the same tornado, WDSU-TV reported.

Tangipahoa Parish’s emergency management director estimated 15 to 20 homes and mobile homes sustained damage, according to the NWS. No injuries were reported.

Alabama

Authorities say thunderstorms have left trees and power lines down across Alabama and flooded several roads.

In western Alabama, the Lamar County emergency manager reported to the NWS that 25 roads across the county were flooded late Tuesday night. Authorities said at least 10 roads were impassable in Lamar County, about 90 miles northwest of Birmingham.