Videos Show Enormous Tornado Tearing Across Nebraska Highway

A powerful tornado ripped across Nebraska on Friday, and numerous social media accounts posted footage of the twister as it crossed a highway near Lincoln.

Nebraska Public Media reported that at least two tornadoes touched down in the Lincoln area, including one that made its way across Interstate 80. By the afternoon, tornado warnings were also issued for parts of Sarpy and Douglas Counties in Nebraska.

"Deputies are on Interstate 80 right now, please avoid the area. Let first responders get to the area," the sheriff's office in Lancaster County, where Lincoln is located, said in a Facebook post. "Again please stay off the interstate."

Newsweek reached out to Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird's office via email on Friday night for comment.

Nick Gorman, a self-professed storm chaser, was among several people who shared video on X (formerly Twitter) of the tornado that moved across the highway near Nebraska.

Another storm chaser named Bryce Shelton shared footage that showed the same tornado from a different angle as it moved across Interstate 80.

Nebraska Public Media warned of other possible dangers, saying, "With the tornados, there have been 60 mph winds and golf balls-sized hail."

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The Lincoln Journal Star reported that a plastic manufacturing facility in Lincoln was hit by one of the tornadoes, resulting in the building collapsing with several people inside.

"About 70 people were inside the building when the tornado hit. Three people were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The other employees were able to be evacuated safely," the newspaper said.

Multiple buildings were damaged along Interstate 80, and one semi truck was overturned.

"Rail cars were also reportedly off the tracks in the area and power lines were down," the Lincoln Journal Star said.

The paper also published photos of the destruction in live updates posted on its website.

The Weather Channel said the storms on Friday that caused the tornadoes were "part of a classic springtime weather pattern that includes two rounds of widespread severe weather through the weekend in the Plains and in the Midwest."

The outlet added that major cities that are at risk for bad storms on Saturday morning include Dallas, Kansas City and Omaha.

Along with the Nebraska twisters, a possible tornado was also reported close to Waco, Texas, in a community called China Spring.

Local meteorologist Josh Johns posted an image on X of what he said was the China Spring tornado "at least a funnel cloud."