Central Floridians began cleaning up Thursday morning after powerful storms ripped across the region Wednesday afternoon, sending trees crashing down on cars and homes, and knocking down signs, including the iconic "Welcome to Beautiful Mount Dora" sign.

South of downtown Mount Dora, a large tree remained lying in the roadway at Terrell Road and Wadsworth Road, off North Orange Blossom Trail

Severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect for part of Wednesday afternoon in several Central Florida counties.

Nickel- to quarter-sized hail fell in other parts of Central Florida, including Oviedo and Deltona.

One man in Deltona had to be rescued after a tree fell on his car.

"My roof was touching my dash when I got out of the car," said Alex Jannotti.

The 24-year-old said it seemed like the storm was letting up Wednesday evening, because the hail had just stopped in Deltona. So, around 6 p.m., he began driving to a nearby gas station on Snook Drive in a heavy downpour.

"I heard crackling, and I thought it was just lightning, because it's been pretty ridiculous lightning all day long," Jannotti recalled. "Next thing you know, everything went black, glass exploded, and I actually remember my roof coming down about two inches away from my head. It came down, and if I sat straight up after — if I sat up after the car stopped altogether — the roof was sitting about this close to my head."

The 24-year-old Jannotti said he was lucky to be alive. He suffered only a few cuts and no broken bones or severe injuries.

Jannotti was able to open his hatch, and said he was thankful a woman stopped to help him out through the trunk of his car. He had a special message for the good Samaritan, saying if she hadn't stopped, he would have had to wait for the jaws of life to rescue him.

"I don't know the lady's name, but thank for you for helping me get out of my car," Jannotti said. "I don't know what I would have done. Thank you. Thank you very much."

A similar chance of scattered, heavy storms is expected Thursday afternoon, with gusty winds, frequent lightning and small hail possible in areas that do see those storms.

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