OKLAHOMA CITY—A sprawling storm system crossing the U.S. on Friday caused deadly crashes, damaged buildings and fanned more than 100 wildfires in several central states, prompting evacuation orders in some communities. More than a dozen tornadoes touched down in Missouri and Arkansas, and threats of more loomed for the Mississippi Valley into the night and the Deep South on Saturday.
The National Weather Service warned of extreme weather across a vast swath of the country that is home to more than 100 million people. Powerful winds gusting up to 80 mph (130 kph) were forecast from the Canadian border to Texas.
