The weather cut a swathe of destruction across an area of the country that is home to more than 100 million people.

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.

Officials confirmed Saturday at least 13 people are dead after multiple storms tore through Missouri and Arkansas.

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.