At least 7 dead as storm hits southern US

Tornadoes and heavy rain storms hit parts of the southern United States, killing at least seven people and cutting power to more than a million customers.

The National Weather Service said a powerful storm is moving northeast, causing heavy snow and sleet from southeastern Michigan to New York.

Central New York and parts of southern New England could see 10 inches or more of snow by Saturday afternoon.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at least two tornadoes caused by the storm system tore through the western part of his state on Friday.

The governor said on social media that at least two people had died in the bad weather, but did not provide further details.

Aside from the tornado, the Kentucky thunderstorm has produced winds of 128.75 km/h, “strong enough to blow a tractor trailer off the road,” Beshear said.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said on social media that three people were killed in the storm in the state, but did not provide further details.

In Arkansas, a man driving on a flooded road was swept away by a swollen river and died, according to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said on social media Friday that an overnight storm that caused strong winds killed one person, but did not provide further details.

More than 1.4 million homes and businesses lost power in states affected by the storm, according to PowerOutage.us data.

Severe storms are frequent in the southern United States during the winter months as warm, moist air rises from the Gulf of Mexico and collides with cold air descending from the north, meteorologists say.