At least 18 dead after violent tornadoes rip across Missouri, South

At least 18 people are dead across three states following a widespread and dangerous severe weather outbreak, which started on Friday and continued during the first half of the weekend.

Most of the destruction was in southeastern Missouri, where the state's highway patrol said six deaths occurred in Wayne County, three were reported in Ozark County and two were confined in Butler and Jefferson counties. St. Louis County police said a woman there was found dead near electrical lines in the backyard of her home.

In Arkansas, three fatalities were confirmed in Independence County, and 29 people were reported injured in eight counties in connection to a storm system that moved through the state overnight, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management said.

And in Mississippi, three residents were killed, and multiple others were injured around the town of Darbun. 

The weather service said at least five tornadoes were reported in Missouri on Friday, including one in the Saint Louis area. Several buildings were damaged. Missouri authorities said 10 people died. 

Officials in Arkansas said on Saturday morning that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight.

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The Storm Prediction Center warned that fast-moving storms would spawn twisters and hail as large as baseballs, but the greatest threat would come from straight-line winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts of 100 mph (160 kph) possible.

What's next:

"Potentially violent" tornadoes were expected Saturday in parts of the central Gulf Coast and Deep South into the Tennessee Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

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The Storm Prediction Center said parts of Mississippi including Jackson and Hattiesburg and areas of Alabama including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa would be at a high risk. Severe storms and tornadoes were also possible across eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee and the western Florida Panhandle.

Father, son caught in tornado

A father and son stopped for gas in Rolla, Missouri, Friday night, only to find themselves in the middle of a potential tornado. 

Tad Peters took video of the scary moment when he and his father Rich were surrounded by debris and intense winds.

What they're saying:

"Is this coming? Oh it’s here, it’s here … we’re in a tornado!" Peters can be heard saying.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that the storm had caused significant damage in the area.