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, creating a blinding dust storm and fanning flames amid a “catastrophic” fire risk.

A huge storm system crossing the U.S. threatens to unleash tornadoes Friday in the Mississippi Valley, blizzards in the northern Plains and dry, gusty conditions in Texas and Oklahoma that pose an extreme risk of wildfires.

A powerful low-pressure system is likely to spawn a dangerous outbreak of severe thunderstorms in portions of the Midwest, South and East, where tornadoes, widespread damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding are all concerns.