Video Shows 'Insane' Moment Tornado Hits Oklahoma Hotel

Two men at a Hampton Inn in Oklahoma filmed the "insane" moment a tornado slammed into their hotel on Monday night.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on Monday night. The warning came after the NWS issued a high-risk severe weather outlook, the highest possible level of alert, for Oklahoma and Kansas earlier in the day as a storm system threatened tornadoes, strong winds and grapefruit-sized hail.

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The tornado hit Bartlesville, Oklahoma in the nighttime hours—one of the most dangerous times for tornadoes since people can't see its arrival.

Instead of taking shelter, two men at the Hampton Inn stood outside the hotel watching the storm's approach before darting inside at the last minute.

"Terrifying footage shows the moment as a large damaging tornado prompted by a tornado emergency hit the Hampton Inn causing major damage to the town #Bartlesville | #Oklahoma," social media account Raws Alerts posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Watch as new footage shows the terrifying moment captured by people inside Hampton Inn as it was being annihilated by a massive tornado as The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, due to a large confirmed violent tornado passing through the town, resulting major damages to [multiple] buildings and home along with one fatality."

In the video, the men are standing outside as tornado sirens wail around them. High winds are tearing through the area. Then, upon realizing they are about to get hit, the footage becomes chaotic as they sprint inside to take shelter. They hurry behind what appears to be a hotel desk as the tornado rips through the building.

"That was f****** insane," one of the men said.

"We're in the middle of it right now," the other added.

According to the Raws Alerts post, the tornado ripped off the hotel's roof and sent it flying into a nursing home. No injuries were reported.

NWS meteorologist Bart Haake told Newsweek that meteorologists will know the tornado's severity rating after damage assessment later on Tuesday. However, he advised people against filming the storm's approach and reminded them to seek safety before a severe storm arrives.

"That's not even just tornados, large hail can be deadly," he said. "It's really best to get into a place of safety before the danger is about to strike."

The same tornado that hit Bartlesville allegedly tore through nearby Barnsdall, leaving behind a slew of damage.

"Aerial views of the devastation in Barnsdall, OK after a tornado tore through the community leaving at least one confirmed death," The Weather Channel reporter Charles Peek posted on X with a video of multiple police lights flashing near the damage.

Fox 25 showed footage of the devastation on Tuesday morning. In the report, piles of debris and rubble were scattered around Barnsdall.

"DAYLIGHT IMAGES FROM BARNSDALL With the sun up, we're getting a better look at the damage in the town of Barnsdall. This is one of the worst tornado seasons we've had in years. The damage is so widespread," Fox 25 anchor Wayne Stafford posted.

Haake told Newsweek that there are no threats for the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area, which includes Barnsdall and Bartlesville, on Tuesday, but storms could return by Wednesday.