Severe storms bringing potentially damaging winds are approaching the Chicago area late Friday night, as a fast-moving squall line races through the state.The fast-moving line of storms will be capable of producing destructive winds over 70 miles per hour and potential tornadoes before the storm system clears the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana around 3 a.

Wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour hammered the Chicago area late Friday and into Saturday morning amid an outbreak of severe weather.

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

Millions of Americans across the country are on alert for a severe weather outbreak as violent, long-track tornadoes with damaging winds of up to 80 mph and large hail are expected across the Midwest and South with the cross-country storm moveing east.

The threat of tornadoes moved east into the Mississippi Valley and the south on Saturday, just a day after a massive storm in several central states.