A relentless barrage of violent tornadoes, raging wildfires, and blinding dust storms has unleashed catastrophic destruction across the central and southern United States, leaving at least 33 people dead and communities shattered.

Residents are surveying damage from unusually vicious weather in multiple U.S. states where violent twisters, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires decimated entire neighborhoods.

The meteorological agency said: "If you live in these areas, get to the sturdiest structure you have access to and remain in place until the storms pass." Mike Kehoe, governor of Missouri - where the 11 deaths were reported across four south-easterly counties - said the state had been "devastated by severe storms and tornadoes,