On Sunday at 12:51 a.m. an updated tornado watch was released by the National Weather Service in effect until 3 a.m. for Barbour, Bullock, Pike and Russell counties.

A destructive wave of storms swept into Alabama on Saturday, bringing with them a rarely-seen threat level for possible long-track tornadoes, winds of up to 70 m.p.h., golf ball-sized hail and torrential rain.

The watch, which had been anticipated, is in effect until 3 a.m. on Sunday and its issuance comes as a large area of deadly and dangerous weather moves across Alabama.

The wife of a man who was killed was miraculously not injured and another woman was found dead early Sunday morning.

The weakening but still volatile weather system was moving Monday into the US Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, bringing thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds, and the potential for more tornadoes.

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.

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