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 powerful storm system that tore across the United States in recent days is poised to move offshore into the Atlantic Monday, but in its wake are devastated communities across multiple states that were hit with violent tornadoes,

Meanwhile, the severe weather threat will linger through Sunday from Florida northward into the upper Ohio River Valley, forecasters warned.

Large and destructive tornadoes are carving paths of destruction across the South for the second day in a row.

An "outbreak" of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is expected through Saturday night in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other southern states.

At least 40 people have died across Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama and Mississippi as powerful storm systems swept through the Midwest and the South. Adrienne Broaddus reports.