At least 12 fatalities have been reported in Missouri, according to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. The deaths come as a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that damaged buildings, whipped up deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires.

A cross-country storm is strengthening as it moves over the central United States Friday and pounding the region with damaging hurricane-force wind gusts that are creating a blinding dust storm and fanning flames amid a “catastrophic” fire risk.

A sprawling storm system crossing the U.S. on Friday caused deadly crashes, damaged buildings and fanned more than 100 wildfires in several central states, prompting evacuation orders in some communities.

The National Weather Service confirmed three EF-0 tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana, and an EF-1 tornado in Indiana.

Poor air quality is being observed Saturday for the state and Indiana, and air quality is expected to be at unhealthy levels for everyone, the weather service posted on X.

Following storms sweeping through overnight Friday into early Saturday morning, temperatures are expected to still be mild.

A dangerous tornado outbreak featuring the potential for "multiple violent" tornadoes threatens much of the Deep South Saturday, as the second day of deadly severe weather continues across the eastern U.