26 June 2023 , 11:05
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Shocking video footage has shown the terrifying moment a tornado ripped through a US town, leaving a path of destruction in its wake as intense weather has hit the US recently.
Greenwood, Indianapolis, was hit by the twister on Sunday, June 25, which picked up debris and left a path of destruction leaving at least one dead. The huge storm can be seen gathering momentum and growing in size as panicked onlookers shout and warn people to get inside to safety.
The Greenwood Fire Department warned people to "stay clear of areas affected by this evening's weather" and said "emergency and utility crews are working to secure any areas with damage".
The tornado left at least 16,000 homes without power, with the Red Cross making itself available to communities affected by the storm.
A video shows the twister picking up debris as it makes its way through Greenwood, Indianapolis, USA, on June 25 (Eric Ford / SWNS)One person was killed when the tornado felled a house in Martin County, Indiana, with their injured partner being airlifted to a local hospital.
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It came as a storm front wreaked havoc in the Midwest and the South, with homes damaged, roads blocked by fallen trees and debris, and large hail was reported. Hail the size of tennis balls was spotted throughout parts of Indiana and Arkansas.
The storms in Indiana came just days after a line of severe storms produced what meteorologists call a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, and softball-sized hail in north-west Texas. Those storms killed at least four people and caused significant damage around the town of Matador.
A lumber yard and hardware store along with other businesses were damaged by storms in Texas (AP)At around 8pm on Wednesday, June 21, a supercell developed near Amarillo before striking the small town of Matador. The damage was concentrated on a one-mile stretch with businesses and homes demolished in the town where "everybody knows everybody" according to Brandon Moore, Matador's water superintendent who is also a volunteer firefighter.
Senior forecaster Matt Ziebell with the National Weather Service said it is "certainly rare to see all at the same time - killer tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail".
The aftermath of a tornado in Perryton, Texas (AP)Mr Moore explained: "It was supposed to move east of us, and within a five-minute timespan, it all changed and switched directions and came straight through Matador.
"We probably had about two minutes of warning to get everybody together and get to safety. There's a few people that didn't make it out of the house, but we did rescue several people and they made it out all right."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, talks with a family as he surveys the damage to their home from a recent tornado In Perryton, Texas (AP)The storm produced winds up to 109mph in Jayton, along with hail more than 4 inches wide. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, a record-breaking wind gust of 97mph was recorded - the strongest since data collection began there in 1969.
In Matador, homes were damaged, buildings flattened and power lines snapped in half by the storm. A restaurant's walls were all knocked down, leaving just the booths standing in what was called a "jaw-dropping" scene by Derek Delgado, spokesperson for Lubbock Fire Rescue.
"You would look on one side where we had a general merchandise store completely flattened to the ground, but across the street, there's a house that's still standing and the vehicles haven't even moved from the driveway," said Mr Delgado.