In Mississippi, a tornado has left 23 people dead and numerous others injured.
The US state was devastated by the powerful storms that passed over it.
Due to the tornado, vehicles were left on their sides and buildings were reduced to ruins.
Many people were compelled to seek refuge in the morning darkness because it struck about 6.20am.
While the tornado passed through the state, WTVA meteorologist Matt Laubhan was live-blogging the weather.
Lost for words, he struggled to pull sentences together as he tried to get across the sheer danger it posed.
‘Dear Jesus, please help them’, Mr Laubhan added as he put his face in his hands.
The National Weather Service issued an alert as the storm was hitting that read: ‘To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW!’
‘You are in a life-threatening situation,’ it warned.
‘Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible.’
Rural towns such as Silver City and Rolling Fork reported destruction as the tornado swept northeast at 70 mph without weakening, racing towards Alabama through towns including Winona and Amory into the night.
The damage spans communities over the combined distance of more than 100 miles, authorities say.
Homes reduced to rubble after deadly tornado tears through Mississippi
Cornel Knight told The Associated Press that he, his wife and their three-year-old daughter were at a relative’s home in Rolling Fork when the tornado struck.
He said the sky was dark but ‘you could see the direction from every transformer that blew’.
He said it was ‘eerily quiet’ as that happened. Mr Knight said he watched from a doorway until the tornado was, he estimated, less than a mile away.
Then he told everyone in the house to take cover in a hallway.
Four people remain missing and the death toll is expected to rise following the tornado.
In a tweet, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency wrote: ‘We can confirm 23 dead, dozens injured, four missing due to last night’s tornadoes.
‘We have numerous local and state search and rescue teams that continue to work this morning. A number of assets are on the ground to assist those that have been impacted.’
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado caused damage about 60 miles north-east of Jackson, Mississippi.
At least 24 reports of tornadoes were issued to the National Weather Service overnight by storm chasers and observers.
‘Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight,’ Governor Tate Reeve said in a tweet.
‘We have activated medical supportâsurging more ambulances and other emergency assets for those affected. Search and rescue is active.’