Almost 300,000 customers are already without power across five states -- Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Texas and Arkansas.

Severe storms bringing potentially damaging winds were sweeping through the Chicago area late Friday night, as a fast-moving squall line raced through the state. The fast-moving line of storms was capable of producing destructive winds over 70 miles per hour and potential tornadoes,

After a day of near record-high temperatures and sunny skies, the Chicago area is bracing for possibly severe storms and dangerously high winds heading into Saturday. A severe thunderstorm watch is currently in effect for all Illinois counties of the Chicago area until 2 a.

As many as 150 million people in the U.S. face a potential severe weather outbreak in the coming days. Storms will likely reach the Tampa Bay area late Sunday, bringing a marginal risk of severe weather to part of the region.

Intense storms with winds gusting up to 90 mph and hail the size of baseballs are forecast to strike a large area of the Midwest and South on Friday, the National Weather Service warned.