At least 14 people were killed after tornadoes swept across a vast swathe of the US, with powerful winds ripping off roofs and toppling electricity pylons.

There were seven fatalities in northern Texas, five died in Arkansas and two in Oklahoma

Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, Indiana and Kentucky were battered by storms, hail, and twisters overnight on Saturday into Sunday.

More than 100 million people, nearly a third of the US population, had been under severe weather warnings.

The centre of the country bore the brunt of the storms as millions of people planned to enjoy the Memorial Day holiday.

More than 500,000 have been left without power as winds overturned cars and destroyed homes.

Texas reported seven deaths including two children and three other members of the family.

Elsewhere in Texas victims in Denton County were taken to hospital, their condition is unknown. According to officials, 24 mobile homes were shattered.

A filling station in Valley View was reduced to rubble after taking a direct hit.

In Cooke County, rescue workers combed through the debris looking for survivors.

“The storm has caused significant damage to numerous homes and businesses,” said Sheriff Ray Sappington.

“Emergency services are actively searching the debris for missing persons and there have been numerous injuries of varying degrees reported.

“It would really help if people just stayed away right now, gave us a few hours to get our search and rescue done,” he told ABC News.

“I know some were out of the area and trying to get back, but it’s dangerous out there. Power lines are down. There have been reports of gas leaks. It’s just dangerous right now.”

Two people were killed in Arkansas including a woman, 26, who was found outside her destroyed home in Olvey.

The small town of Rogers in Arkansas was wrecked after powerful winds ripped off metal roofs and brought down power lines and trees.

“I’ve lived in this area my entire life, I can barely recognise it,” a woman told the Weather Channel.

In Oklahoma, several guests at a wedding party were injured after being pummelled by the storm.

There were also reports of flash flooding in Memphis, Tennessee and Tupelo, Mississippi.

At the Indianapolis 500 motor racing event, officials warned spectators to take cover from the lightning.

“Given the proximity of lightning moving toward the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a decision has been made to pause the pre-race ceremonies and move fans out of the grandstands and Snake Pit,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway said on X.

The storms were moving east on Sunday towards Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, putting an estimated 27 million people in the mid-Atlantic region at risk.