Over the past 24 hours, more than 40 reported tornadoes have swept across eight states in the Midwest and South -- and the dangerous severe weather threat continues.

The eight states with reported tornadoes in the past day are Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee.

Overall, there have been more than 500 reports of severe weather since late Friday, from the Midwest into the South, including not only tornadoes, but damaging wind gusts and large hail.

Across the South, Tornado watches remain in effect in portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia as a line of powerful storms continues to sweep east.

A tornado watch designated a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" remains in effect for much of Alabama and portions of Mississippi and Louisiana until 8 p.m. CT. The worst of the tornado threat will be over after this.

From eastern Tennessee, including Knoxville, into northwestern Georgia, a tornado watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. ET. Additional watches could be posted in the coming hours for points east, across George and into the Florida Panhandle.

There is also the threat of additional severe thunderstorms bringing potentially damaging wind gusts and large hail. Any stronger, slow-moving thunderstorms could also bring torrential rain and frequent lightning.

Dangerous flash flooding is also a concern. Flash flood warnings are in effect from southern Mississippi through central Tennessee.

-ABC News' Daniel Peck

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed reporters Saturday, saying the devastation in Arkansas could take weeks and months to recover from.

Three people have died in the storm so far, she said.

The governor encouraged residents to document impacts to their homes and said officials were working to get power running again in the affected areas.

She said it may take weeks and months to recover. The biggest challenges will be clearing the debris and getting food and water to people in need.

-Victoria Arancio

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.