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

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 moveing east.

TYLERTOWN, Miss. (AP) — Unusually vicious and damaging weather across multiple U.S. states spawned violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires over the weekend, leaving at least 39 people dead.

At least 40 people died when tornadoes tore through the US Midwest and South. Residents in Missouri tried to comprehend the destruction that killed at least 12 people in the state.

Residents of Villa Ridge, Mo., a town west of St. Louis, begin to pick up what's left of their homes after an EF2 tornado brought 130 mph winds. NBC News' Adrienne Broaddus reports on the toll of damage across the state.

Deaths were reported in Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri as dozens of tornadoes ripped through the United States.