Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes have claimed the lives of at least seven individuals in various US states, with meteorologists cautioning about potential historic levels of rainfall in certain regions.
Among the casualties were a man and his teenage daughter in western Tennessee, whose home was destroyed, and a man in Indiana whose pickup truck hit downed powerlines.
Additional fatalities were reported in Missouri as the initial wave of predicted storms swept through the country on Wednesday and into Thursday.
Thousands of homes have been left without electricity and many have been significantly damaged.
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Ryland Mosley stands outside what remains of his home in Owasso, Oklahoma. Pic: AP
Debris was propelled as high as five miles (8km) in the air in Arkansas.
In Lake City, Arkansas, a tornado caused roofs of houses to be torn off, brick walls to be demolished, and cars to be thrown into trees.
The Weather Prediction Centre in Maryland warned that Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky could potentially experience more severe weather in the near future.
An area around the Mississippi River near Memphis, home to over 1.3 million residents, is expected to face the worst impact.
Over 90 million people, spanning from Texas to Minnesota and Maine, have been under the threat of severe weather, according to the Storm Prediction Centre based in Oklahoma.
The National Weather Service has warned of continuous heavy rains in the central US, which will bring daily “significant, life-threatening flash flooding.”
The anticipated downpour could result in over a foot (30cm) of rain over the next four days, which the weather service describes as a “once in a generation to once in a lifetime” occurrence.
It has cautioned that “historic rainfall totals and impacts are possible.”
An early morning storm damaged homes in Owasso, Oklahoma. Pic: AP
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is prepared to provide essential supplies such as food, water, cots, generators, and meals.
Nashville, Tennessee, saw multiple tornado warnings overnight, depleting some siren batteries due to the high alert levels, according to fire officials.
Tornado damage in Florissant, Missouri. Pic: Reuters
Owasso, Oklahoma. Pic: AP
Rescue operations were carried out on Thursday for individuals trapped in floodwater in Nashville, amidst preparations for several days of continuous rainfall.
Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky mentioned that historic levels of rainfall and flooding are expected in western parts of the state that are not accustomed to such events.
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The forecasts have raised concerns for residents in rural areas of Kentucky, where water from the mountains can rapidly inundate low-lying regions. Just a few years ago, numerous fatalities occurred due to flooding in eastern Kentucky.
Meteorologists attributed the conditions to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear, and a large amount of moisture coming in from the Gulf.