ISTANBUL 

Severe storms, including tornadoes, hail, and strong winds, have affected the central and eastern US on Friday night and Saturday morning, with three fatalities reported in Texas.

Strong winds over 128 kilometers (80 miles) per hour hit the Southern Plains on Friday, causing deadly car crashes in Texas that resulted in at least three fatalities due to dust storms, according to CNN.

The winds also knocked over trucks, trees, and power lines, leading to widespread power outages.

In Oklahoma, more than 130 fires have ignited, prompting temporary evacuations in some areas with no reported fatalities.

The governors of Alabama, Kansas, and Missouri have declared emergencies in response to the threat of severe weather and fires.

The storm is expected to strengthen and move toward the Southeast, increasing the threat of deadly tornadoes and intense thunderstorms on Saturday night.

There is a high risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valleys and the Southeast on Saturday, and a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over the Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.