At least seven people have died in tornadoes and severe storms in the southeastern United States.
The state of Alabama was hit hardest. Six people died there. Dozens of homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Several people are still missing.
The weather service reported 33 tornadoes or severe storms nationwide. The town of Selma was hardest hit. Most of the streets there were closed because of broken power lines and trees, as the city announced on Facebook.
Rescue teams are on duty to provide assistance and clear the streets. Citizens were asked not to go outside. Children should not leave schools.
A tornado was also spotted near Atlanta International Airport in the state of Georgia. The planes had to stay there temporarily on the ground.
Winter storms with heavy rain continue to hit the US state of California hard. The sustained rainfall has caused flooding across much of California. The Monterey Peninsula south of San Francisco could be partially cut off from the rest of the state.
Authorities asked residents of the low-lying areas along the Salinas River to leave their homes. Emergency services have been looking for a five-year-old boy since Monday.
dpa/is