A cross-country storm is strengthening as it moves over the central United States Friday and pounding the region with damaging hurricane-force wind gusts that are creating a blinding dust storm and fanning flames amid a “catastrophic” fire risk.

The setup Friday through the weekend is a dangerous one in parts of the South, Midwest and East. Some tornadoes could be strong and widespread damaging winds are also a major threat.

The tornado stemmed from a winter storm that brought heavy rain and powerful wind gusts to Los Angeles County.

A tornado touched down in a Los Angeles County neighborhood early Thursday morning, a rare event in Southern California. With 85 mph winds, the Oxnard tornado knocked down trees and damaged homes and cars in Pico Rivera at around 3:15 a.

An EF0 tornado touched down in Los Angeles County early Thursday morning, causing damage to a Pico Rivera neighborhood, the National Weather Service said.