At least seven people have been killed after thunderstorms and tornadoes swept through several US states, with forecasters warning record rainfall could soon follow in some regions.The powerful system is expected to stall over the country's midsection, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, fueling further deluges and possible tornadoes in areas already drenched with heavy rain.Across multiple states, the devastation was immense. The storms and tornadoes flattened homes, tore off roofs, collapsed a warehouse, decimated a church, and overturned trailers.Deaths were recorded in western Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana on Wednesday and Thursday, and the toll could rise in what the NWS described as ‘once-in-a-generation’ storms in flood warnings issued on Thursday.Dozens of severe weather alerts, including tornado watches and flash flood warnings, have been issued from Texas to Pennsylvania.The storm system will threaten ‘significant, life-threatening flash flooding’ until Saturday, the NWS said.On Thursday, tornado warnings – the highest level alert – were issued in parts of Texas, Louisiana and West Virginia, with tornado watches in parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee.Flash flood warnings were also in effect in Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky – where states of emergency have also been declared – and West Virginia.Forecasters attributed the violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, and strong wind shear.
