The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for parts of metro New Orleans — specifically the River Parishes and the northshore — through 6 p.m. Saturday. The weather service said numerous strong tornadoes, large hail and wind gusts of up to 75 mph are expected as a storm system moves through the area this afternoon.

Western Georgia is expected to see the highest tornado threat and many areas are in a 4 out 5 risk. All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia are under a tornado watch until 4 a.m. >

Over the past 24 hours, more than 40 reported tornadoes have swept across eight states in the Midwest and South -- and the dangerous severe weather threat continues. The eight states with reported tornadoes in the past day are Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee.

Portions of West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania were under a new tornado watch issued on Sunday by the National Weather Service, as the death toll from storms rose to at least 34 people in six states since Friday.

Tornadoes have struck the Midwest and South, leaving widespread damage in their wake. Learn more about the impact and where the storms are heading next here.

The man last known to be seen with a University of Pittsburgh student before she vanished from a beach in the Dominican Republic gave more details to local prosecutors about the last time he saw her,