The death toll from tornadoes and other extreme weather that buffeted the central United States over the weekend climbed to 21 on Monday, as the severe storms threatened to roil parts of the East Coast, AFP reported.

The system, which struck the Southern Plains region beginning late Saturday, overturned vehicles and ripped up homes, leaving a wake of deadly destruction in its path.

Over the weekend eight people died across northwest Arkansas in the severe weather, Lacey Kanipe, a public information officer with the state's Division of Emergency Management, told AFP.

In Kentucky four people died as tornadoes ripped through the state, Governor Andy Beshear said during a news conference Monday, explaining that "at least a few" twisters touched down in the state, including one that traveled on the ground for some 40 miles (65 kilometers).

The storms also caused "significant damage to the power infrastructure," said Beshear, who declared a state of emergency, adding that it could be days until all power is restored.

Seven people died in Texas after a tornado ripped through the Valley View area north of Dallas, Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington told reporters.

And in Oklahoma, at least two people were dead after a tornado hit Mayes County late Saturday, the county head of emergency management, Johnny Janzen.

bd-pratidin/GR