Meanwhile, dust storms spurred by high winds claimed almost a dozen lives on Friday. Eight people died in a Kansas highway pileup involving at least 50 vehicles, according to the state highway patrol. Authorities said three people also were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle.

Spring has arrived, and with it, the peak of the severe weather season across the United States, and forecasters say the worst of the storms and tornadoes might occur outside of the traditional Tornado Alley.