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

A powerful storm system roared across the Midwest and South Friday night, unleashing a series of tornadoes that carved paths of destruction and left at least three dead in Missouri.

The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for more than 2 million people on Saturday. An "outbreak" of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is expected through Saturday night in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, western Georgia, southern Tennessee, the Florida Panhandle and southern Arkansas.

As many as 150 million people in the U.S. face a potential severe weather outbreak in the coming days. Storms will likely reach the Tampa Bay area late Sunday, bringing a marginal risk of severe weather to part of the region.

Much of Alabama will have a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe weather on Saturday. A Level 4, or moderate, risk means that numerous severe storms will be expected. Storm Prediction Center The National Weather Service says an outbreak of severe weather is looking increasingly likely in Alabama on Saturday.