At least three people have died as a powerful system of storms sweeps across a wide swathe of the central and southern of the United States, with another three killed in vehicle crashes as blinding winds whipped through Texas and Oklahoma.

The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings early Saturday for areas in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana and Texas.

The National Weather Service predicted extreme weather across a vast swath of the country with a population exceeding 100 million people.

A strong storm driving gusty winds and dry air across a parched landscape was fueling dangerous fire conditions across a wide swath of the country, from eastern New Mexico and Colorado to parts of the Midwest. Forecasters warned that more outbreaks appeared likely going into the weekend.

Numbers for family, friends, doctors, insurances, veterinarians, etc. Put a copy in your emergency kit, and one near your phone or in your cellphone. Have an out-of-town family member or friend you can call who will pass updates to family and friends for you.

A dangerous storm system is expected to sweep through the St. Louis region Friday evening, bringing the potential for destructive winds and fast-moving tornadoes, with the metro area under a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe weather.