By Emily Shapiro and Kyle David

Hurricane Erick, which rapidly intensified overnight, made landfall Thursday morning on Mexico's Pacific Coast as a powerful Category 3 storm, authorities said.

More than 50 million Americans are on alert for severe weather.

A storm system centered over the central United States continues to bring a multi-day stretch of severe weather across parts of the Plains and Midwest.

Severe weather and flash flooding continue to threaten much of the central and eastern U.S. on Thursday, disrupting Americans' travel plans.

Damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes are possible.

A 12-year-old boy who was swept away by rushing water is believed to have been found dead after flash flooding impacted the Mid-Atlantic, authorities said Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said, based on preliminary information, the tornado that slammed into St. Louis was at least an EF-3, with winds of up to 140 mph.