On Friday evening, a violent tornado swept through Missouri, trapping two men in their car as storms tore through the region.
The storm brought a mix of high winds, fires, and hail to the Midwest, causing chaos and fear among those in its path.
Harrowing Footage from Rolla
In Rolla, Missouri, Richard and Tad Peters found themselves taking shelter at a QuikTrip gas station.
As powerful winds slammed into the area, they recorded dramatic video footage from inside their car. “Oh my god.
God**** tornado is hitting us. Woah!” Richard exclaimed as the winds howled outside, sending debris flying.
The men could hear the roar of the storm, their car shaking as the fierce winds battered the station.
Rain poured down, and flashes of light lit up the darkened sky, adding to the terrifying atmosphere.
The Moments of Fear and Panic
Tad, who later shared the footage on Facebook, could be heard shouting in panic, “Is this coming… oh it’s here!” The intense winds, reportedly reaching speeds of up to 157 miles per hour, caused trees and shrubs across the street to shake violently.
“Look at all that debris,” Richard said as the wind’s roar overwhelmed their voices.
In the midst of the storm, Tad opened the window to get a closer look at the chaos.
“OH MY GOD! We are in a tornado!” he yelled as objects flew through the air, and the gas station’s pumps shook with the fury of the storm.
Close Call, But No Injuries
Despite the terrifying experience, both men were unharmed.
However, the storm caused significant damage in the area, including to a nearby gas station.
“A tornado just went over us in Rolla, Missouri at the QuickTrip on I44, knocked out power, and caused damage to Loves across the road,” Tad later shared on social media.
Authorities in Maries County quickly responded, urging residents to avoid the area so that first responders could safely carry out their work.
The supercell that caused the tornado had moved across the region, wreaking havoc as it passed.
A Massive Storm System Moves East
The same storm system also fueled wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma on Friday, leaving destruction in its wake.
With its path continuing eastward, millions of people across the U.S. were at risk of severe weather
. Forecasters warned that strong nighttime tornadoes, with winds of up to 157 miles per hour, were possible from southern Iowa to Jackson, Mississippi.
The storm system remained a significant threat, with expected hail and damaging winds from Friday into Saturday, impacting states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
The risk of severe weather was expected to last throughout the weekend, with at least 138 million people in its path.