At least seven people have died after a tornado tore through Mississippi, leaving a trail of devastation that stretched across the Midwest.
The powerful twister sped through the region Friday night, causing widespread damage including downing power lines that left thousands in the dark.
Over 30million people were under a tornado warning all evening, warned to prepare for 130mph storms bringing golf ball-sized hail.
The devastation prompted authorities to warn those on their way who are in a “life-threatening situation”.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado made landfall around 8:50 p.m. in the rural towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork, reporting heavy destruction.
Search and rescue teams were dispatched to Sharkey County, Mississippi after a severe storm hit the community
Severe damage was reported in the town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi after the tornado tore through homes and businesses
A home in Sharkey County is being torn apart Friday night after the tornado swept through the area
The roof of another house was torn off after the devastating winds and lightning on Friday
A series of severe storms will move across the South, particularly parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, during the evening and night hours
The tornado has left at least a 100-mile trail of damage and is reportedly moving towards Alabama. More than 84,000 customers in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee had lost power as of Friday night, according to PowerOutage.us.
The National Weather Service issued an urgent alert after the tornado made landfall, warning: “To protect your life, take cover now”.
“You are in a life-threatening situation,” it warned. “Flying debris can be fatal to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes are destroyed. Significant damage to homes, businesses and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible.’
Search and rescue teams were dispatched to Sharkey and Humphreys counties, Mississippi, while first responders were forced to disperse injured victims to area hospitals after significant damage was sustained at Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital.
Corney Knight, who lives in Mississippi, told the Associated Press that he, his wife and their 3-year-old daughter were at a relative’s house when the tornado, which he described shortly before as “eerily quiet,” hit.
He added the sky was dark but “you could see the direction of every transformer that blew.”
More than half a dozen emergency shelters were set up across Mississippi after the twister tore through homes and businesses.
Significant damage was found in the small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi
Meanwhile, cars were spotted trying to flee the area and others regrouped after the tornado
Some residents of the tiny town seemed to stand around, dazed after the carnage
Skies over Pope, Mississippi looked particularly menacing Friday night where lightning could be seen
Forecasters on Friday had warned residents in parts of the Midwest and South that dangerously strong winds were blowing through the region
Aside from a few electrical flashes in Anguilla, Mississippi, it was pitch black when the tornado passed
After the twister first ripped through the small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, storm chaser Zachary Hill tweeted, “The damage in Rolling Fork, Mississippi is BAD. People are trapped, we need help here.”
Authorities are emphasizing the urgency of the situation, and Hill said police asked him to break the news: “Major tornado damage, we need as many ambulances as possible and all search and rescue assistance in this city.”
Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker told WLBT-TV the tornado made it impossible for him to leave his home after causing extensive damage and destroying power lines to his property.
“The western part of Rolling Fork is residential and only a number of houses over there have been completely destroyed,” added former Rolling Fork Mayor Fred Miller.
“Highway 61, where most of our businesses are located, all businesses on 61 have been completely destroyed. People are trapped in a couple of the restaurants and people are now trying to get them out.’
A tornado about a mile wide appeared to cross the Mississippi River from Anguilla via Silver City, Belzoni, and Rolling Fork
The National Weather Service has warned those in the tornado’s path are in a “life-threatening situation.”
Heavy thunderstorms in the south could trigger tornadoes on Friday night
The tornado has come after a severe weather front hit several Midwestern states, with southern Missouri hit by nearly three inches of rain Thursday night.
Torrential rains in the area resulted in the deaths of two people after their car was swept away by the deluge. Authorities said there were six young adults in the vehicle, but only four escaped.
The body of Devon Holt, 20, of Grovespring, was found at 3:30 a.m. and the body of Alexander Roman-Ranelli, 19, of Springfield, was recovered about six hours later, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Thomas Junge said .
Reports suggest a suspected tornado also made landfall in north Texas early Friday, damaging homes and downing trees and power lines.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards warned of possible tornadoes hitting the state by the weekend and urged residents to prepare for significant damage.
As the tornado continued to devastate the state, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a tweet, “Many in the MS Delta need your prayers and God’s protection tonight.
“We have activated medical support – providing more ambulances and other emergency resources to those affected. Search and Rescue is active.”
The storm system is being fueled by a slump in the jet stream that swept through California on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in tornadoes there including one that struck downtown LA — the first in the area since 1953.
A red SUV is submerged in flood water on Old Ritchey Road in Granby, Missouri early Friday. An elderly woman was rescued from the car
A man stuck in a tree is rescued by fast water teams from the Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District and the Verde Valley Fire District in Camp Verde, Arizona. Several water rescues were reported in central and northern Arizona during the week
Torrential rain caused backyard flooding in Bryant, Arkansas on Friday
Backyards appeared more like lakes after the heavy downpours
A view from this weather satellite shows how broad the storm appears to be over the south