A powerful storm system that tore across the United States in recent days is winding down Monday, but in its wake are devastated communities across states hit with violent tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms spun off by the massive system.

National Guard and National Weather Service crews were dispatched to central and eastern United States after at least 52 tornadoes and wildfires in Oklahoma killed at least 44 people over the weekend.

At least 42 people are dead after a weekend of dynamic storms unleashed tornadoes, blinding dust and wildfires — leaving behind uprooted trees and flattening hundreds of homes and businesses