Days earlier, the same ferocious weather system spawned violent twisters, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires, leaving at least 39 people dead in the South and lower Midwest. Here's what to know about the unusually erratic and damaging weather.

Residents are surveying damage from unusually vicious weather in multiple U.S. states where violent twisters, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires decimated entire neighborhoods.

At least 20 people have died, including 12 in Missouri, as a storm outbreak has produced tornadoes, high winds and fires in the South and threatens to cause flooding and further storms throughout the weekend.