Bloomington, Indiana – Video filmed by X user Nick Rodecap captures intense handheld footage on February 19, 2026, from a sheltered spot as a severe supercell thunderstorm spawned a tornado across the city’s west side. Sirens wailed and warnings urged residents to take cover as relentless lightning and power flashes lit up the night.

The first clip opens on a pitch-dark suburban skyline. Rooftops and treetops are silhouetted against a stormy haze as a brilliant bolt streaks across the frame, bathing everything in stark white light. Swirling clouds and distant structures appear for a fleeting moment before darkness returns.

The camera shakes with the howling wind, capturing rapid-fire pulses. Jagged forks spiderweb the sky in electric blue and purple, illuminating the underbelly of the supercell like a living entity. Each strike cracks loudly over thunder and distant sirens.

Wide views of the horizon reveal chaotic energy. Bolts dance horizontally and vertically, some grounding with explosive flashes that light neighborhoods like daylight. The tornado lurks unseen nearby, its presence betrayed by the electrical symphony above.

A second clip shows the night pierced by massive sheets of lightning, turning the sky violet and revealing glimpses of the storm’s rotation. Ground strikes boom nearby, sending shockwaves through the air and rattling windows. Bolts chain together in dazzling sequences amid the hail-wrapped vortex before the storm’s core moves eastward.

The tornado struck Bloomington’s west side with winds up to 120 mph. Homes were damaged, the roof of Fifth Third Bank was stripped, airport hangars were hit, and widespread outages affected more than 2,000 residents. Golf ball-sized hail and 70 mph gusts accompanied the storm, though no serious injuries were reported.

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