Wind gusts were forecast to top 50 mph in some areas. In Pico Rivera, a tornado with wind speeds reaching 85 mph traveled about a mile through a residential area of the city.

The storm, which forecasters said could produce tornadoes, is expected to strengthen Friday and move towards the central US.

Southern California, which was scorched by wildfires in January, was hit by more extreme weather. A rare tornado touched down in Pico Rivera, which is in the L.A. area. Meanwhile, in Riverside County,

At least five people have been killed in a monster storm sweeping across much of the U.S. At least two people were killed in Missouri after a tornado struck the Bakersfield area.

The threat of tornadoes moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, a day after a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that damaged buildings, whipped up dust storms that caused deadly crashes and fanned more than 100 wildfires in several central states.