On Friday evening, a terrifying tornado caught two Missouri men by surprise as it tore through the Midwest, bringing with it violent winds, destructive hail, and raging fires.

The storm’s intensity trapped the men inside their car, leaving them in a terrifying battle against nature.

Surviving the Storm at a Gas Station

Captured in dramatic video footage, the men were sheltering under the overhang of a QuikTrip gas station in Rolla, Missouri.

As the storm raged around them, Richard Peters can be heard shouting in disbelief, “Oh my god. God**** tornado is hitting us.

Woah!” The howling winds drowned out most sounds, but the terror in their voices was clear as the storm intensified.

The rain fell in sheets, and blinding flashes of lightning lit up the dark sky, creating a surreal scene at the otherwise quiet gas station.

The two men were visibly shaken, and Richard’s exclamation, “Look at all that debris,” is captured as the storm’s ferocity picked up.

Tornado Strikes: A Near Miss

As debris flew around them, Tad Peters, who posted the video to Facebook, yelled, “Is this coming…. oh, it’s here!” The winds, reportedly reaching speeds of up to 157 miles per hour, were powerful enough to knock debris into the air.

The gas station’s fuel pump lines trembled, and large objects soared through the sky, adding to the chaos surrounding them.

“OH MY GOD! We are in a tornado!” Tad shouted as he bravely rolled down the window to assess the damage.

Despite the deafening winds and the close proximity of the tornado, the two men remained inside the car, clinging to hope and safety.

Close Call, but No Injuries

The terrifying ordeal continued as rain and debris pummeled their vehicle.

However, despite the close call, Tad later shared that they were unharmed.

He posted on Facebook, “A tornado just went over us in Rolla, Missouri at the Quick Trip on I44 and knocked out power and caused damage to Loves across the road.”

While they were fortunate to avoid injury, the storm caused significant damage nearby.

Local authorities, including Maries County Emergency Management, urged residents to stay clear of the area, as first responders worked to assess the destruction.

The community of Rolla, Missouri, was left reeling from the event.

A Nationwide Threat

The storm system didn’t stop in Missouri. It continued its destructive path, impacting Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and beyond.

As the low-pressure system moved eastward, the risk of severe weather expanded, with up to 138 million people in the U.S. now at risk of severe storms.

Forecasters predicted strong tornadoes, including EF2-rated storms with winds ranging from 113 to 157 miles per hour, could strike areas from southern Iowa to Jackson, Mississippi.

With winds and hail continuing through the weekend, the Midwest and Plains regions were bracing for more severe weather as the system moved east.