Tornadoes are sweeping across areas of the South and Midwest of the United States, leaving a trail of destruction and tens of thousands of homes without power. Flash flooding is expected to follow the violent storms as the National Weather Service warns of a threat to life.

The night befor the Midwest is expected to be hit by a storm, NWS ended its foreign-language translation services contract, according to Bloomberg.

Severe storms with damaging winds, tornadoes, hail and flooding are all possible Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Injuries and damage were reported from tornadoes and storms that swept through Arkansas Wednesday. In the video above, a large tornado is seen touching down in Bay, Arkansas. The National Weather Service described the tornado that hit Lake City, Arkansas, as "catastrophic."

Several states in the central U.S. were hit hard overnight by a deadly storm that reportedly caused flash flooding and even destructive tornadoes.

Staying informed about the forecast and knowing what to do before and during an event saves lives. Here are some things you need to know to stay safe.

A tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 2:28 a.m. in effect until 10 a.m. The watch is for Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Platte, Atchison, Doniphan, Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton,

This could lead to widespread flooding. There is a potential for double-digit rainfall in southern Indiana through the weekend. A wind advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Thursday across most of the state.