Tornado outbreak live updates: 40 dead in cross-country storm system

The Storm Prediction Center continues to warn that numerous significant tornadoes, some of which could be long-track and potentially violent, are expected in the coming hours. Cities like Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi, and Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, remain in the rare, high risk.

A level 4 "moderate risk" is in place from northeastern Louisiana to southern Tennessee, including cities such as New Orleans, Louisiana, and Montgomery, Alabama, up to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Widespread damaging wind gusts and several tornadoes are possible in this area with the threat lasting into the nighttime hours in some locations.

Strong, damaging wind gusts could also impact cities like Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Nashville, Tennessee, where a level 3 "enhanced risk" been issued.

Destructive wind gusts up to 80 mph could produce widespread damage and trigger many power outages.

Tornado damage consistent with winds of 165 mph have been recorded in Cave City, Arkansas, according to the National Weather Service's tornado survey team.

"This is the very top of the EF3 scale," the NWS of Little Rock said in a post on X.

Additional surveys will continue over the coming days, the NWS said.

A line of severe thunderstorms continues to sweep across parts of the South and has already triggered multiple confirmed tornadoes in Mississippi, with damage over the past few hours.

There have been over 30 reported tornadoes across 6 states -- Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois and Indiana -- in the last 24 hours.

A "particularly dangerous situation tornado watch" remains in effect across much of Mississippi and parts of eastern Louisiana until 6 p.m. CT. Another is in effect across much Alabama, until 8 p.m. CT, including cities such as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Montgomery.

A line of severe storms is sweeping east across the region bringing the threat of strong tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail. Any stronger, slow-moving storms bringing torrential rain could also trigger areas of dangerous flash flooding in the coming hours.

The most dangerous tornado threat is now through the evening hours. The strong storms will continue to sweep across eastern Alabama and into Georgia Saturday night.

-ABC News' Daniel Peck

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke to President Donald Trump on the phone Saturday afternoon following Friday night’s tornados in the state, she said in a post on X.

Huckabee Sanders served as Trump's press secretary during his first term.

"He said to tell the people of Arkansas he loves them and he and his administration are here to help with whatever we need following last night’s tornadoes," she said.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh