A cross-country storm is strengthening as it moves over the central United States Friday and pounding the region with damaging hurricane-force wind gusts that are creating a blinding dust storm and fanning flames amid a “catastrophic” fire risk.

The setup Friday through the weekend is a dangerous one in parts of the South, Midwest and East. Some tornadoes could be strong and widespread damaging winds are also a major threat.

The National Weather Service says an outbreak of severe storms could spawn tornadoes, heavy snow and high winds.

A sprawling storm system crossing the U.S. on Friday overturned semitrucks on highways and fanned wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, where officials called for ev