Bloomington, Indiana – Video filmed by X user Jeremy Harmon captures eerie nighttime footage on February 19, 2026, from a wooded area as a powerful supercell thunderstorm spawned a tornado closing in on the city’s west side during a rare February severe weather outbreak across the Midwest.

The video opens on a pitch-black forest of tall, leafless trees silhouetted against a hazy, glowing sky. Lightning and power flashes illuminate the storm clouds in a purple hue, while branches sway in whipping winds.

The horizon pulses with bursts of blue and white light resembling electrical arcs, signaling the tornado’s approach as sirens blare across the area.

As the footage continues, the glow intensifies over the treetops. Debris and hail swirl in the air, and the faint roar of the storm grows louder. The storm’s base looms over the foggy landscape, while sparks flicker from downed utilities.

The video ends with the illuminated chaos fading into darkness, leaving a tense calm that belies the destruction that later struck the city.

The tornado eventually impacted Bloomington’s west side with winds up to 120 mph, damaging homes, tearing the roof off a bank, hitting airport hangars, and leaving more than 1,200 residents without power. Road closures, evacuations, and a “particularly dangerous situation” alert were issued as golf ball–sized hail and 70 mph gusts accompanied the storm.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download