Dramatic CCTV footage emerged today of the moment a tornado ripped through St Louis airport on Friday, tearing off the roof and causing millions of dollars worth of damage.
It was released as forecasters warned people across the south-east and Midwest to brace themselves for more violent storms to come.
They predicted tornadoes, dangerous thunderstorms, flash flooding and large hail could hit a great swathe of the country stretching from the southern Plains to the Ohio Valley over the next three days.
The CCTV footage, released today, shows airport workers desperately running for cover as high winds tore through Lambert-St Louis International Airport on Friday night.
Chairs, tables and panels are blown through the airport like skittles as paper and other debris swirl through the air.
Another camera captures the moment the power goes out in the baggage-checking area. The screen goes black then four workers are seen running for cover.
Around 60 per cent of scheduled daily departures left the airport yesterday, but the damage was so severe it is not expected to be fully operational until mid-week.
