Thousands of power outages were reported Saturday as a deadly severe weather outbreak moved across the Midwest and South.

A dynamic storm that prompted foreboding predictions of dangerous weekend weather spawned tornadoes, dust storms and wildfires that killed at least 39 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

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.

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

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