Dozens of tornadoes spawned by a powerful storm system wiped out entire towns across a wide swath of the South, killing hundreds in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years, and officials said Thursday they expected the death toll to rise. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said it received 137 tornado reports around the regions into Wednesday night.

photo by: AP Photo | The Tuscaloosa News, Dusty Compton

A tornado moves through Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

photo by: AP Photo | Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts

People walk down Magnolia Lane after a tornado touched down in Concord, Ala., outside of Hueytown late Wednesday, April 27, 2011. The damage in the area is extensive with homes and businesses destroyed and people injured.

photo by: AP Photo | The Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts

Faye Hyde, right, sits on a mattress in what was her yard as she comforts her granddaughter Sierra Goldsmith, 2, in Conord Ala. Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Their home was completely destroyed. A wave of tornado-spawning storms strafed the South on Wednesday, splintering buildings across hard-hit Alabama and killing 72 people in four states. At least 58 people died in Alabama alone.

photo by: AP Photo | Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts

Extensive damage is seen after what appeared to be a tornado ripped through parts of Concord, Ala., Wednesday, April 27, 2011. A wave of tornado-spawning storms strafed the South on Wednesday, splintering buildings across hard-hit Alabama and killing 72 people in four states. At least 58 people died in Alabama alone.

photo by: AP Photo | Tuscaloosa News, Dusty Compton

A car lies overturns and buildings destroyed in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, April 27, 2011. A wave of severe storms laced with tornadoes strafed the South on Wednesday; buildings across swaths of the university town were damaged or destroyed.

photo by: AP Photo | Athens Banner-Herald, David Manning

Lightning streaks above Cornith Baptist Church in Athens, Ga., as a line of severe thunderstorms sweep across Georgia in the early morning on Thursday, April 28, 2011. At least 77 people have been killed in the outbreak severe weather across the south. (AP Photo/ Athens Banner-Herald, David Manning)

photo by: AP Photo | The Decatur Daily, Gary Cosby Jr.

A large tornado sweeps through Limestone County, south of Athens, Ala., near Stewart Road, Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2011.

photo by: AP Photo | Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts

Michael Dunn is hugged by his mother Patricia Dunn as they stand in the road that lead to his house which was completely destroyed after a tornado touched down, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Concord, Ala.

photo by: AP Photo | Birmingham News, Jeff Roberts

Concord Fire and Rescue personel run toward a large down tree that was blocking Warrior River Road after a tornado touched down, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Concord, Ala.

photo by: AP Photo | Butch Dill

Devastation is left Thursday, April 28, 2011 after a tornado hit Pleasant Grove, Ala., just west of downtown Birmingham Wednesday afternoon.

photo by: AP Photo | nCaroline Summers

Debris is littered after a tornado hit, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Tuscaloosa, Ala. A wave of severe storms laced with tornadoes strafed the South on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people around the region and splintering buildings across swaths of an Alabama university town.

photo by: AP Photo | TimesDaily, Daniel Giles

Trees are sheared off as debris scatters Alabama 13 after a tornado struck Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Phil Campbell, Ala.

photo by: AP Photo | Butch Dill

Birmingham Rescue search from house to house looking for victims after a tornado hits Pratt City just north of downtown Birmingham on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, in Birmingham, Ala. A wave of thunderstorms with near hurricane-force winds pushed across Alabama on Wednesday, killing at least five people including a woman in a mobile home and sending snapped tree limbs onto cars and homes.

photo by: AP Photo | The Birmingham News, Bernard Troncale

An injured man is carried away after a tornado touched down, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Birmingham, Ala.,

photo by: AP Photo | The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, C. Todd Sherman

A car lays among the wreckage of a home flattened by a tornado in Smithville, Mississippi on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

photo by: AP Photo | Decatur Daily,Brennen Smith

Storm damage surrounds the Cullman County Courthouse in downtown Cullman, Ala. after a tornado touched down on Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2011.

photo by: AP Photo | The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, C. Todd Sherman

A group of unidentified emergency volunteers move a body recovered among the devastation in Smithville, Mississippi after a tornado destroyed much of the small town on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

photo by: AP Photo | Decatur Daily, Brennen Smith

Destruction lines a street in downtown Cullman, Ala. after a tornado touched down on Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2011.

photo by: AP Photo | Decatur Daily, Brennen Smith

A utility pole hangs from wires in front of a church in downtown Cullman, Ala. after a tornado touched down on Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2011.