At least 18 people are dead after severe weather hit parts of Missouri, Texas and Arkansas overnight, officials said. Eleven storm-related fatalities were reported in the Missouri counties of Ozark, Butler,

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 moveing east.