Severe weather wreaks havoc across US, three killed in Mississippi storm

Washington: Severe weather conditions have caused destruction across the US, with powerful storms killing three people in Mississippi and strong winds tearing off roofs in a small Oklahoma town on Wednesday.

Authorities have issued storm warnings for the east coast, while the Midwest experienced heavy snowfall and Texas battled wildfires due to dry, windy conditions.

Weather forecasters have warned of widespread rain and snow in mountainous areas of California and other western regions from Wednesday to Friday as a storm moves in from the Pacific Ocean. A hurricane warning was issued for parts of North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.

Officials in Union County, North Carolina, confirmed that an EF1 tornado struck the Unionville area on Wednesday, with winds reaching up to 145 km/h. The storm damaged several structures and caused power outages, but no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, wildfires fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation have spread across Texas. In San Patricio County, near Corpus Christi, at least 20 homes and buildings were destroyed, according to County Judge David Krebs. The National Weather Service warned that fire risks remained high in south-central Texas on Wednesday.