At least 10 people are dead and more than three million without power after violent storms tore through the eastern United States Friday.

The storms hit the region amid a record heat wave, uprooting trees, knocking down power lines and prompting the governors of three states – Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia – to declare states of emergency.

Six deaths were reported in Virginia, two in New Jersey, one in Maryland and one in Ohio – most the result of fallen trees.

Widespread power outages spanned the region, with officials saying it could be days before everyone's electricity is restored.

Many of the outages were centered in the U.S. capital and surrounding areas, where broken tree branches littered the streets and some residents were put under mandatory water restrictions.

Temperatures in Washington reached a record 40 degrees Friday, and forecasters predicted more extreme temperatures Saturday along with the possibility of more severe thunderstorms.

Friday's storms swept across much of the north central U.S. during the afternoon and early evening, tipping over large trucks on highways and downing utility poles.