At least 12 fatalities have been reported in Missouri, according to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. The deaths come as a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that damaged buildings, whipped up deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires.

Numerous significant tornadoes are expected Saturday afternoon and evening, with the highest risk across several states in the Deep South, forecasters say.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, and Lawrence counties.

Jeff Smitherman, the director of an Alabama emergency management agency, joins ABC News live to discuss the high-risk alert for potential tornado outbreaks in Alabama and Mississippi.

A deadly tornado outbreak ripped through Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi overnight Friday, leaving destruction, power outages and tragic loss in its wake.