Swaths of the U.S. were threatened by severe weather on Friday, with the potential for storms to develop into dangerous tornados.
Parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana were at risk of stormy conditions, including strong winds, hail and tornados Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.
At least 10 million people in that area were placed under a tornado watch by the weather service. It also issued a flash flood threat across parts of northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and western Arkansas.
In Arkansas, college homecoming events were canceled and high school football games were delayed due to the threat of severe weather.
Storms across the southern Plains could ignite thunderstorms capable of developing tornados, according to Accuweather.
“All thunderstorm hazards will be possible, including an isolated tornado or two, large hail as well as damaging straight line thunderstorm wind damage,” University of Texas meteorology lecturer Troy Kimmel told the Austin-American Statesman, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The storms could also trigger power outages and cause property damage. In some extreme cases, they could pose some risk to lives, Accuweather said.