Millions of Americans across the country are on alert for a severe weather outbreak as violent, long-track tornadoes with damaging winds of up to 80 mph and large hail are expected across the Midwest and South with the cross-country storm moving east.

A deadly tornado outbreak has left at least 17 people dead and numerous others injured as a powerful storm system carves a destructive path across multiple states, now heading toward the East Coast. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado watches early Saturday,

A powerful storm system sweeping through the central and southern United States has resulted in the deaths of at least 33 people.