The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for parts of metro New Orleans — specifically the River Parishes and the northshore — through 6 p.m. Saturday. The weather service said numerous strong tornadoes, large hail and wind gusts of up to 75 mph are expected as a storm system moves through the area this afternoon.

Western Georgia is expected to see the highest tornado threat and many areas are in a 4 out 5 risk. All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia are under a tornado watch until 4 a.m. >

Over the past 24 hours, more than 40 reported tornadoes have swept across eight states in the Midwest and South -- and the dangerous severe weather threat continues. The eight states with reported tornadoes in the past day are Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee.

Meanwhile, the severe weather threat will linger through Sunday from Florida northward into the upper Ohio River Valley, forecasters warned.

Tornadoes have struck the Midwest and South, leaving widespread damage in their wake. Learn more about the impact and where the storms are heading next here.

The man last known to be seen with a University of Pittsburgh student before she vanished from a beach in the Dominican Republic gave more details to local prosecutors about the last time he saw her,

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.

Violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the U.S., wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states.

Weekend storms in the South and Midwest have led to a reported 36 fatalities, following what officials are describing as severe tornadoes and dust storms — as the National Weather Service warns of resulting floods.

Thousands of power outages were reported Saturday as a deadly severe weather outbreak moved across the Midwest and South.