As a punishing heat wave took hold of Texas, weather forecasters warned that severe storms with hail and even hurricane-force winds could hobble parts of Appalachia and the Midwest on Friday.

Severe storm systems across the Midwest leave 16 dead, including nine from a tornado in southeastern Kentucky.

Tornadoes were spotted Friday afternoon in the St. Louis area and above southern Illinois, prompting weather officials to implore people in the region to take cover. National Weather Service radar ...