US weather: At least eight dead from violent storms, leaving thousands without power

At least three children are among the dead after storms unleashed tornadoes across the country

Violent storms unleashed tornadoes across Texas, left thousands without power in the mid-Atlantic US and killed several victims in at least four states over the weekend.

The National Weather service said more than a dozen tornadoes were confirmed in Texas, where four people were killed. Three children were among the dead.

The agency said a survey team found evidence of an EF-3 twister, meaning it sustained winds of at least 136 mph, near Weches, Texas, and two other smaller tornadoes touched down in the same region Saturday. Another EF-3 twister flattened part of Franklin, Texas.

The system moved eastward into Mississippi, where the weather service said teams have confirmed eight tornadoes. At least three weak tornadoes struck Alabama on Sunday.

Four people were killed in Texas. The other victims died in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Those numbers could go up because teams are reportedly still assessing the damage.

Meanwhile, much of the eastern Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic woke up Monday to damaged buildings, closed schools, and dark homes and businesses after powerful storms that spawned at least one confirmed tornado.

The National Weather Service said a tornado touched down Sunday evening in Shelby, Ohio, about 90 miles southwest of Cleveland. A half-dozen homes were damaged and at least six people were injured.

The weather service said high winds in Pennsylvania that may have been tornadoes flattened a house and several barns and blew out windows.

The storms also collapsed a roof at a New Jersey apartment complex, disrupted rail service in the mid-Atlantic and caused airport delays.

Tens of thousands of utility customers are without power across the region.

The Associated Press contributed to this report