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.

WWL-Louisiana meteorologist Payton Malone said that a "tornado outbreak is looking more and more likely across the Deep South."

Dangerous weather conditions will peak Saturday, with one of the most prolific tornado-producing setups in years expected to develop over the Deep South — with disastrous results likely.

A cross-country storm will explode in strength as it moves over the central United States Friday, delivering extreme weather to millions through the weekend, including the chance of multiple strong tornadoes.

A multi-day severe weather outbreak is set to bring tornadoes, flash flooding and damaging winds from the Midwest to the South to the East Coast.

Weather forecasters warn about a major multiple-day outbreak of severe weather that includes multiple strong tornadoes from the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast, Great Lakes and Atlantic coast through the weekend.

A line of strong thunderstorms blowing across the Midwest will hit the Chicago area Friday night, bringing high winds and the possibility of some spin-up tornadoes on the squall line.