US weather: Terrifying footage shows tornado barrelling towards Illinois town

The tornado was captured on camera tearing through Beardstown

Terrifying video footage shows the moment a tornado sweeps towards a town in Illinois on Saturday 1 December.

The video was captured by firefighter Steven Chase and shows the tornado travelling towards Edwards Street, Beardstown, next to the town’s fire station.

The tornado hit Beardstown in central Illinois on Saturday, causing severe damage to trees, power lines and buildings in the neighbouring city of Taylorville.

More than 20 preliminary tornadoes were reported, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Centre. Around 10,000 homes were left without power in the state on Saturday night.

A major storm in the central US is bringing severe weather including flash flooding and heavy snow to the eastern half of the country.

It has been reported that one person was killed during a severe storm in southwestern Missouri on Friday. ABC news reported that a man was found dead with debris on top of him in Aurora, Missouri.