A powerful storm system roared across the Midwest and South Friday night, unleashing a series of tornadoes that carved paths of destruction and left at least three dead in Missouri.

A quickly-spreading wildfire, fueled by powerful winds, has forced the urgent evacuation of the entire town of Velma, in Stephens County Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is closing parts of OK-7 to keep people out of danger as flames tear through dry grass.

A powerful storm dropping drenching rain on flood-prone Southern California is raising concern among forecasters that it could produce a dangerous, widespread outbreak of tornadoes, damaging winds and fires along with a blizzard as it crosses the entire United States in the coming days.

Storm shelters across the Mid-South are opening their doors Friday night as the entire region falls under a Level 4/5 Risk Zone for severe weather.

Footage shows the sky blacken as the view from the window becomes completely obscured by the monster storm - with debris seen flying through the air as winds reached 130kph