Stunning footage captured the moment a powerful tornado hurtled onto a Nebraska highway, sweeping dangerously close to moving cars.
The terrifying tornado was one of at least two dozen tornadoes that ripped through the American heartland, devastating several states, including Nebraska, Colorado, KansasOklahoma, Mountain and Louisiana.
The most severe weather is forecast to hit the Great Plains and South over the weekend as the storm front leaves a trail of destruction across the Midwest beginning Thursday night.
Aerial video showed the roof of a supermarket ripped off in Noble, Oklahoma, where at least four other businesses and homes were leveled by the storm.
The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for numerous counties in Nebraska and Kansas through Friday night, while more severe weather warnings have been introduced from Missouri to Texas.
Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana were hit with severe weather and at least 16 terrifying tornadoes Thursday night as severe weather lashed across the heart of the country.
Severe weather continued to ravage the Great Plains region through Friday night when the storm front’s trail of destruction stretched across five states.
At least two dozen tornadoes have spawned in the heart of the country on Thursday and Friday, predominantly hitting Kansas and Oklahoma, according to ABC6.
Wind gusts of up to 75 mph caused significant structural damage in several states, while the storm also brought hail and torrential rains to numerous counties.
Much of the damage has been in rural areas of the Midwest, prompting the National Weather Service to warn that the full extent of the destruction may not be known until morning.
Reports indicated that as of Thursday night, at least 16 tornadoes caused damage from Colorado to Louisiana.
There have been no immediate reports of deaths as a result of the tornadoes.
Shocking footage showed a roof ripped off a grocery store in Noble, Oklahoma on Friday.
A gas station in Noble, Oklahoma sustained significant damage after being hit by the storm.
In Weskan, Kansas, a multi-vortex tornado tore off part of the roof of a school and damaged numerous structures, including stadium bleachers and a scoreboard.
‘After we left the shelter, I was in the big gym, I noticed a waterfall [as] the roof had been badly damaged and rainwater was coming in,’ said Weskan Schools Principal Jeff Montero. KWCH.
“And then as we were walking through the building, we saw broken glass. And then upstairs, my office and some other offices and classrooms and stuff, you can look up and see the sky.
Weskan Schools was just three days away from the end of the year and had prepared the alum-funded bleachers for their graduation ceremony.
The $75,000 bleachers had only been standing at the school for a week and a half before the structure was torn apart by the tornado. However, Montero admitted that he was “happy that no one was hurt.”
In Weskan, Kansas, a multi-vortex tornado tore off part of the roof of a school and also damaged stadium bleachers, a scoreboard and more.
Weskan Schools was just three days away from the end of the year and had prepared the alum-funded bleachers for their graduation ceremony. The $75,000 bleachers had only been at the school for a week and a half before the structure was torn apart by the tornado.
A tree appeared to block a highway in Kansas after one of the tornadoes (pictured)
Other tornadoes also touched down in McDonald, Grove County and Edson in Kansas, according to Accuweather.
In Colorado, many short-lived tornadoes were detected ricocheting near Arapahoe County, near Denver. More tornadoes were also detected in Nebraska.
Outside of tornadoes, the Great Plains experienced heavy downpours and hail, with some areas experiencing a two-month average of two-day rainfall.
Cherry Creek Reservoir State Park in Colorado recorded around 10 inches Tuesday, damaging several roads, with huge holes and cracks in the asphalt.
The footage captured the moment a tornado hurtled toward a Nebraska highway.
A large tornado touched down in Cole, Oklahoma Thursday night
The most severe weather is expected to hit the center of the country on Friday, with large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes forecast.
Kansas City, Des Moines and Omaha have the greatest threat of hail and tornadoes, according to Good morning america (GMA).
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio have the greatest threat from damaging winds.
Flash flooding could also be a major problem from Wyoming to Texas and alerts have already been sent to residents. Some areas of Texas could receive up to 10 inches of rain in the coming days, the National Weather Service predicted.