Dallas tornado: Four killed as storms rip through several US states

At least four people have been killed as a series of storms wreaked havoc in several US states.

A tornado ripped through homes in a densely populated area of Dallas, Texas, leaving tens of thousands without electricity on Monday.

Four people have been confirmed dead in Arkansas and Oklahoma, with tornado warnings in place as the tornado most east.

The tornado struck near Dallas Love Field Airport on Sunday evening.

There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries in Texas on, but fire and rescue officials said three people were rushed to hospital.

Tornado warnings were in effect on Monday in far eastern Arkansas, near the Mississippi River, as the storm system moved to the east.

The Storm Prediction Centre in Norman, Oklahoma, said areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee could see severe thunderstorms.

Dallas-based radio station KNON-FM went off the air when the studio suffered major damage from the tornado.

Presenter Lew Morris said the power went out first, followed by the "distinctive whistle" of a tornado within three minutes.

He and another radio show host sheltered in a toilet.

"We then heard the building shaking and could hear the glass windows shattering everywhere along with debris banging around. We waited until all the noise died down," Mr Morris said.

"We walked out to see the studio he was just broadcasting from destroyed."

Addressing a news conference on Monday morning, Dallas mayor Eric Johnson said the city was lucky this time.

"I think we should consider ourselves very fortunate that we did not lose any lives - no fatalities and no serious injuries - in last night's storms. I think we should all be very grateful for that," he said.

October tornadoes are not common, and cities are rarely hit, according to Harold Brooks of the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma.

NWS meteorologist Jennifer Dunn said there may have been two or more tornadoes in north Texas but the extent would not be known until later when crews have surveyed the damage.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said one of its stations sustained significant damage during the storms overnight, posting photos on Twitter that show a collapsed roof and debris.

The storm disrupted flights in north Texas and north-west Arkansas.

According to Flightaware.com, 63 flights were delayed and 18 cancelled at Dallas Love Field on Monday, while 78 were cancelled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and more than 200 were delayed.