A powerful storm packing at least one tornado ripped across the US state of North Carolina overnight, causing injuries, damage to homes and power cuts for thousands.

This was one of several tornados to sweep through the city of Washington. The funnel cloud destroyed at least two mobile homes.

Further west in Durham, vehicles and buildings were pelted with huge hailstones.

Heavy rain in the area also made some of the streets impassable.

But the extreme weather conditions are not expected to continue with sunny skies predicted later on Saturday.