Two children among six dead and 23 injured after powerful tornadoes hit Tennessee – as NYC prepares for 60mph storm to hit Northeast

Two children are among six dead after a powerful series of tornadoes hit Tennessee on Saturday – as New York City prepares for a rare high-wind storm, with gusts of up to 60 mph.

More than 20 people have been rushed to hospital after homes and businesses were damaged in several cities. Hail the size of neighborhoods fell as trees were uprooted and power lines were downed in the deadly tornadoes.

Three people, including a child, were killed after a tornado struck Montgomery County, north of Nashville, near the Kentucky state line.

Several municipalities have reported injuries and houses torn off their roofs. In Tennessee, 45,000 people are still without power as of Sunday morning.

The Nashville Emergency Operation Center said three other people were killed by severe storms in a downtown area. Meanwhile, another 23 people were being treated for injuries at Montgomery County hospitals.

Photos posted on social media showed damaged homes with debris scattered across lawns, a tractor-trailer on its side on a highway and insulation stripped from the walls of buildings.

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said in a statement: “This is devastating news and our hearts are broken for the families of those who have lost loved ones.

“The city stands ready to help them in their time of grief.”

After the horrific twisters, a state of emergency was declared in Clarksville.

Metropolitan Nashville police identified the victims killed at the center as Joseph Dalton, 37, Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, and her son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2.

Dalton was in his mobile home when the storm threw it on top of Perez's home. Two other children, one in each home, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the department said in a statement.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that a tornado touched down around 2 p.m. A shelter was set up at a local high school.

Residents were asked to stay home while first responders assessed the situation. In a briefing shared on social media, Pitts said there was extensive damage.

“So please, if you need help, call 911 and help will be on its way immediately. But if you can, please stay home. Don't go on the roads. Our first responders need time and space,” he said.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said he and his wife Maria were praying for all Tennesseans affected by the storms.

“We mourn the lives lost and ask that everyone continue to follow the guidance of local and state officials,” Lee said in a statement.

Shanika Washington said that as soon as she heard the storm sirens going off in her Clarksville neighborhood, she took her children, ages 5 and 10, into a windowless bathroom in the basement of her townhouse.

“The lights were flickering, so I knew it was somewhere nearby,” she said. “I just kept praying to God while it was going on. It was very scary and scary.”

During their twenty harrowing minutes in the bathroom, Washington hovered over her children like a protective shield.

“The back door actually flew open and you just heard a gust of wind,” she said. 'The blinds and everything were shaking a lot.

“I could tell we were in the middle of a storm.”

When she came out of the bathroom, she looked out a window and saw debris swept onto cars with broken windows, shutters torn off houses and some roofs off townhouses.

Because the power was out in the area, Washington took her children to a hotel for the night.

“I'm still a little upset, so I probably won't sleep much tonight,” Washington said. “I'm still trying to process it a little bit.”

Allie Phillips, who lives in Clarksville, said she was having lunch when she received reports of a tornado quickly approaching her neighborhood.

“It was unbearable to watch the livestream and not know if my house was still there,” she said.

'When we finally decided to leave, the road to my house was closed because there were so many power lines on the road and we had to take a detour.'

Phillips said her home survived with minimal damage — noting that her daughter's toys were destroyed and a neighbor's dog kennel smashed into the back of her house — but she was saddened to see her neighbor's house suffer a roof was missing and a house further down the street had almost completely disappeared.

The National Weather Service has issued multiple tornado warnings in Tennessee and said it planned to investigate an area where an apparent tornado struck in Kentucky.

The storm came nearly two years to the day after the National Weather Service recorded 41 tornadoes across a handful of states, including 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. A total of 81 people died in Kentucky alone.

Meanwhile, the Northeast storm will strengthen and expand, with the wettest and windiest weather being felt Sunday into Monday before falling temperatures can turn precipitation to snow.

Howling winds could topple trees, disrupt flights and cause power outages as they blow across New England on Sunday.

The storm will reach peak strength by the afternoon as it engulfs much of the East, with wind gusts increasing significantly compared to Saturday where the storms will be more concentrated to the south.

By Sunday evening, winds could reach 60 miles per hour across New England and coastal areas of New York and New Jersey.

The public has been warned to secure any outdoor Christmas decorations, while those traveling by air can expect delays or cancellations.

“High winds are blowing around unprotected objects making driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles,” the National Weather Service said.

“Tree branches could be blown over and there could be some power outages. Use extra caution while driving, especially if you are driving a conspicuous vehicle.”

Nearly all of the eastern parts of the US will experience heavy rainfall, with some areas soaking up to two inches.

Forecasters warned that flash flooding is likely, with parts along the east coast expected to be soaked by at least an inch of rain.