A life-threatening outbreak of long-lived and strong tornadoes is expected today in parts of the central and eastern US from a powerful, wide-reaching spring storm.

Prepare for the chance of severe storms impacting your Monday morning commute, including potential tornadoes. After a dry, balmy weekend, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of southeast Louisiana Monday through 11 a.m., including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houma and Mandeville.

More than 13 million Americans were under tornado watch on Wednesday evening, as destructive storms struck across the Midwest and South.

Two people were killed in Tennessee, officials said, and millions of people were under severe weather advisories and more than 300,000 customers had lost power.

Strong and warm winds of up to 50 mph gusted in from the south, causing thousands across southwestern Tennessee to lose electricity Wednesday afternoon, the first rumblings of the major storm poised to inundate millions in the Mid-South with heavy rain through Saturday.

CNN’s Ryan Young reports from the middle of the destruction after powerful tornadoes tore through the central US. The storms ripped homes into unrecognizable shreds and tossed vehicles like toys. Arkansas,

Tornadoes ripped across a wide swath of the central and southern United States on Wednesday, destroying homes and businesses and bringing down power lines and trees.

A wide-reaching storm spawned several intense and violent tornadoes Wednesday and threatens near-nonstop rainfall Thursday that could trigger once-in-a-lifetime flooding. Follow here for live updates.