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

The dynamic storm from Friday through Sunday had earned an unusual “high risk” designation from weather forecasters.

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.