A powerful storm system that tore across the United States in recent days is poised to move offshore into the Atlantic Monday, but in its wake are devastated communities across multiple states that were hit with violent tornadoes,

The weather cut a swathe of destruction across an area of the country that is home to more than 100 million people.

Violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the U.S., wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several 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.