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This image was captured from a video of the tornado that ripped through the Jackson, Miss., area around midday Friday. The video was created by TornadoVideos.net and can be viewed at the bottom of this page.

Less than a week after devastating tornadoes hit the Upper Midwest, destructive twisters and thunderstorms have taken aim at areas farther south, demolishing homes and school buildings and tragically killing at least nine people.

The threat will continue through tonight and Saturday as the thunderstorms head farther east.

The Jackson, Miss., area was one of the latest locations to be hit by the extensive line of vicious thunderstorms. Reports say a tornado ripped through Clinton, just northwest of Jackson, around 11 a.m. CDT Friday, causing multiple injuries and widespread damage with roofs of homes torn off.

Even more recently, a tornado report out of Geiger, Ala., Friday afternoon stated that houses had been severely damaged or completely destroyed. Another tornado report from Possumneck, Miss., included possible injuries.

AccuWeather.com's Jesse Ferrell has more details on this twister in his blog.

As of mid-afternoon Friday, there were more than two dozen reports of tornadoes from central Mississippi into southwestern and west-central Alabama. One tornado was also reported near Bowling Green, Mo., northwest of St. Louis, Friday afternoon.

Thunderstorms have also produced wind damage farther north into north-central Tennessee and southwest into central Louisiana.

The thunderstorms first ignited Thursday evening from eastern Kansas through eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas then tore across Arkansas and northern Louisiana Thursday night.

William Smith tugs at a piece of rubble as he helps clear out what is left of a friend's home in Tushka, Okla., Friday, April 15, 2011, following last night's tornado. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

The small town of Tushka, Okla., was particularly hit hard when a tornado plowed through Thursday evening. Reports say two people were killed with more than two dozen others injured. In addition to many homes, several buildings of the town's only school were destroyed, according to the Associated Press.

A dozen tornadoes were reported from south-central Oklahoma to north-central Kansas Thursday evening, along with widespread wind damage and hail up to the size of softballs.

Though no tornadoes were reported as the thunderstorms roared farther east overnight, damaging winds and lightning were enough to cause more devastation.

This image, courtesy of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in San Diego, Calif., shows tornado reports Thursday evening into mid-afternoon Friday.

Tragically, at least seven people, including three children, were reportedly killed in Arkansas. Most of the deaths were attributed to trees falling on homes.

AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Bill Deger has more information on Thursday's outbreak.

This video was uploaded to YouTube by TornadoVideos.net.