Texas and Nebraska face severe weather, Houston under severe thunderstorm watch

Severe weather affects millions of people across the Southern Plains on Saturday.

The threat of damaging winds, large hail and scattered tornadoes extends from Nebraska to Texas.

Southeast Texas is particularly vulnerable. The Houston area is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 6 p.m. local time.

On Sunday, the risk of storms shifts northward, with the Dakotas, Nebraska, western Minnesota and Iowa in focus due to damaging winds and large hail.

The risk of severe weather is expected to ease across the country after the weekend.

But next week, the heat is expected to soar in the West. Triple-digit temperatures will reach cities like Sacramento, Phoenix and Las Vegas by mid-week.