A massive storm system that brought tornadoes, rain, high winds and wildfires killed dozens of people in the Midwest and South over the weekend.

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.

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

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