Dark tornado flips vehicles, cuts power to 9,000 homes in Baton Rouge (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Louisiana residents are counting the cost of storm season after a tornado cut power lines and flipped vehicles in Baton Rouge.
Jaw-dropping footage shows the damage caused by a dark twister that tore through parts of Louisiana’s second largest city.
According to ABC’s WBRZ 2, the EF-1 tornado touched down Friday morning with wind speeds reaching up to 90 miles (145km) per hour.
The vortex of high winds is reported to have flipped over at least two vehicles while more than 9,000 households were left without power.
Viewer sending us this image: "This car was in the parking lot behind the racetrac and landed in the trees next to it." pic.twitter.com/wEkEfPM0O7
— AE Stevenson (@aestevie) May 12, 2017
The @Entergy power outage map sure gives a good idea of where the likely #tornado passed through East #BatonRouge Parish. #LaWXpic.twitter.com/bHBYx9R1zE
— Josh Eachus (@JoshEachus) May 12, 2017
#BREAKING tornado warnings currently in effect. Here's video sent in from Sherwood Forest and S. Harrells Ferry. @WAFB on now w/ @SteveWAFBpic.twitter.com/mYhfFwkq7D
— Lauren Westbrook (@LaurenWestbrook) May 12, 2017
One eyewitness posted footage to Youtube purporting to show a particularly close call during the raging storm, in which debris can be seen flying straight into power lines and exploding above a SUV vehicle.
A second video shows swirling winds crossing the city with large explosions occurring as the twister appears to lay waste to electricity lines.
Storms also raged in Oklahoma last week, where residents reported hail stones about 4 inches (10cm) in diameter.
READ MORE: First ever tornado hits Massachusetts
A number of buildings were also damaged in the stormy conditions between Thursday and Friday.
Some of the biggest hail I have ever seen. Perkins Oklahoma, official report so far is 4.5" This image from Wayne Grider. pic.twitter.com/tqKS4vxWli
— Brad Sowder (@KOCOBrad) May 12, 2017
Some building damage and teachers cars were hammered but most importantly the kids are safe! #OKWXpic.twitter.com/GwcEKQpZJ9
— Coyle Bluejackets (@CSBluejackets) May 11, 2017