The year’s first deadly US tornado struck after dark Thursday, killing two people in a small East Tennessee community as the first of five back-to-back, jet stream-driven winter storms pummeled the eastern United States.

At least two people were killed and three more injured when a possible tornado ripped through communities near Knoxville, Tennessee, Thursday night causing widespread damage.

A tornado swept through a swath of Tennessee, killing a mother and daughter and injuring at least three other people as it caused severe property damage, officials said.