One of the most heavily armored storm chasing vehicles ever built got pushed across the road by an Illinois tornado — and the video is extraordinary.
The Dominator 3, a purpose-built armored vehicle designed to withstand direct tornado impacts, was intercepting a powerful tornado near Rockdale, Illinois on Friday when the storm proved stronger than expected. Footage captured from inside the vehicle shows the moment the tornado pushed the Dominator sideways across the road.
Video of Illinois Tornado Pushing The Dominator 3 Across the Road
The footage also captures the birth of the wedge tornado that went on to strike Lena, Illinois, where significant structural damage was reported to the high school and elementary school. No injuries or fatalities were reported in Lena following the storm.
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Friday’s tornado was part of a broader severe weather outbreak that affected more than 50 million people across the Midwest and Plains, with confirmed tornadoes touching down in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms before the storms fired, warning of hail greater than 3 inches in diameter and wind gusts stronger than 85 mph…