Nearly 10 million people living in communities across North and South Carolina are bracing for tornadoes, as a series of deadly storms that already wreaked havoc in the South the day before is barreling toward the Eastern Seaboard.

An updated tornado watch was issued by the NWS Raleigh NC on Wednesday at 2:37 p.m. in effect until 8 p.m. The watch is for Edgecombe, Halifax, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson counties.

A powerful and damaging spring storm system that wreaked havoc on the South earlier this week is continuing to barrel toward the East Coast, where more than 64 million people from Florida to New

A tornado watch is in effect for Hampton Roads and the surrounding areas.

The NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued a tornado watch at 7:48 a.m. on Wednesday in effect until 1 p.m. The watch is for Duplin, Greene and Lenoir counties.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 11:05 p.m. on Tuesday in effect until Wednesday at 6 a.m. for Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch that includes New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The threat of severe weather prompted New Orleans Mardi Gras parades to roll early Fat Tuesday and attention is now turning what is in the forecast this afternoon and evening.

You hear the terms watch and warning a lot in severe weather. Here's what they mean and what you should do when it's issued in your area.

An updated tornado watch was issued by the NWS Wakefield VA on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. in effect until 8 p.m. The watch is for Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties.