The death toll in southern United States after a chain of overnight tornadoes and thunderstorms climbed to at least 40 and there were also more than 100 injured in the accidents caused by the high winds, authorities and local media said.

The high winds overturned trucks, trapped people, ripped up houses, smashed cars, and uprooted trees in the states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama.

By Wednesday the National Weather Center also warned the city of New Orleans and the state of Georgia that tornadoes are heading their way.

The highest death toll was suffered by the state of Tennessee. According to the state emergency officials, 24 died and approximately 150 people were injured across the state.

A tornado also caused an enormous gas fire as it struck a Columbia Gulf Transmission company station near Green Grove, about 40 miles northeast of Nashville. The flames of the gigantic blaze reached heights of 400, 500 feet in the air.

The tornado also wrecked a home close by.

"It just took the house and everything and my horses and my dog," Dara Reasonover told CNN. "I don't know if they're alive or dead, but we'll make it."

Arkansas and Tennessee were hit by the twisters during the day they held nominating contests before November's presidential election. The candidates expressed their condolences to victims as they addressed supporters.

Several incidents were caused by the tornadoes and high winds. For example, several people who found shelter under a bridge were swept into the river. Fortunately, they were rescued and suffered insignificant injuries.

A shopping mall located in Memphis, Tennessee was severely damaged and a dormitory at Union University in Jackson had the same fate. Fortunately, the people who got trapped in the wrecked buildings were rescued and no major injuries were reported.

The emergency officials in Arkansas reported 13 dead across the state, CNN reported.

"It's a pretty rough night in the scope of it. I don't know if I can remember when we've had as many (tornado) warnings and touchdowns," Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said by telephone.

In Kentucky, the emergency services found seven victims, state emergency spokesman Buddy Rogers told Fox News on Wednesday.

"We were preparing for the worst and we did get hit pretty hard -- but it always could have been worse," he said.