At least one person has been killed and dozens were injured after tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma and Texas, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Search and rescue teams have been sent to the worst-hit areas with people trapped in ruined buildings.
Storms have also caused flash flooding in some parts.
Residents face a major clean-up. Pic: AP
Two towns to bear the brunt of the tornadoes were Powderly in Texas and Idabel in Oklahoma which both lie close to the border between the two states.
Idabel is located in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, in the southeastern corner of the state, where the authorities confirmed one fatality.
The town saw a church, medical centre and school torn apart.
‘Total destruction’
Steven Carter, an emergency management coordinator for McCurtain County, said: “There was total destruction on the south and east sides of Idabel.”
Emergency workers equipped with generators have been sent to the area to search for missing residents.
Governor Kevin Stitt tweeted: “Praying for Oklahomans impacted by today’s tornadoes.”
Keli Cain, of the state’s emergency management office, said at least three other counties were also hit by storms, causing flooding.
The National Weather Service said tornadoes were also reported in Texas and Arkansas and a storm system was heading towards Louisiana.
In Texas, authorities in Lamar County said at least 50 homes were wrecked and 10 people were treated at one hospital, including two with critical injuries.
No deaths have currently been reported.
Roofs were torn off buildings. Pic: AP
‘Heartbreaking to see’
County official Judge Brandon Bell declared a disaster in the area, paving the way for federal assistance and funding.
He said at least two dozen people were injured across the county.
After touching down, a tornado travelled north through the communities of Hopewell, Caviness, Beaver Creek and Powderly, the county sheriff’s office said.
Randi Johnson, chief of the Powderly volunteer fire department, said: “It’s going to take a long time to get this cleaned up, but the community came together.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see.”
The scenes of destruction have been described as ‘heartbreaking’. Pic: AP
The town is about 45 miles west of Idabel and some 119 miles northeast of Dallas.
Meanwhile, at least five tornadoes have been confirmed along the Mississippi and Alabama coastline.