(Reuters) -At least 21 people were killed overnight in Kentucky and Missouri when a volatile weather system spawned tornadoes as it ripped across a large swath of the U.S. Midwest and Great Lakes, officials said on Saturday.

Gov. Andy Beshear says the death toll is expected to rise as more information comes in following storms that struck Kentucky.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced Saturday that 18 of the deaths came in his state, and 10 others were hospitalized in critical condition after a severe storm system swept across part of the U.S. Midwest and South.