The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for more than 2 million people on Saturday. An "outbreak" of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is expected through Saturday night in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, western Georgia, southern Tennessee, the Florida Panhandle and southern Arkansas.

"The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and several tornadoes," National Weather Service warns

An "outbreak" of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is expected through Saturday night in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other southern states.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he takes full responsibility for his administration's "war on drugs", in a video message posted on his Facebook account, as he braces for a legal battle at the International Criminal Court.

Two of the tornado deaths occurred in southern Missouri in the Bakersfield area of Ozark County, about four hours south of Kansas City, and a third death was reported in Butler County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other officials said. Some people were injured, the highway patrol reported, but no numbers were immediately available.