Meteorologist prays for Mississippi residents in path of on-air tornado: ‘Dear Jesus, please help them’

A local Mississippi weatherman called on the name of Jesus Christ live as he watched a deadly tornado approach the town of Amory, Mississippi on Friday night.

While reporting on the tornado’s path and seeing it close in on the populated city, WTVA’s Matt Laubhan told viewers to get into their “tornado safe place”.

He then paused and prayed to Christ to keep his residents safe.

ARMY CORP INVESTIGATING NEW ORLEANS FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM AFTER DRAIN PUMP CORRODED IN 5 YEARS

Laubhan was following the deadly tornado Friday night at the NBC affiliate news station in Tupelo, Mississippi, as it tore through the state, where it would ultimately kill 23 people.

The Emmy Award-winning meteorologist was glued to his storm tracking screen as he reported the storm’s movement, becoming visibly disturbed when he realized the tornado was most likely going to veer directly toward Amory.

At the start of the nearly two-minute clip – which has since racked up more than a million views on Twitter – Laubhan pointed out that his radar showed a “strong tornado here, just east of Amory”.

“How far from Amory are we talking about?” he asked, updating and adjusting his models in real time.

After further observations, he said, “Assuming we were moving at 65 miles per hour, I would say the few streets west of Amory were now less than two minutes away.”

RARE TORNADO RIPS LOS ANGELES COUNTY, INJURING 1 AND TEARING ROOF

As radar images behind the meteorologist showed the storm closing in on the town, Laubhan warned: “This is a strong, life-threatening tornado that will move either extremely close to Amory or in the northern part of the town of Amory.”

He then offered his viewers a warning that he might be wrong about his prediction: “You trust me too much. I tell you where it’s going and some of you are like, ‘This is where it’s going. . But the reality is that it could change direction.”

Either way, he advised Amory viewers, “We need to be in our safe place from tornadoes.”

Seeing a new scan, Laubhan became tense. The tornado appeared to be heading straight for the city. He said: “We have a new scan coming as we speak. Oh man, like the north side of Amory, it’s coming.”

Increasingly emotional, he said, “Oh man” again, and leaned over his instruments, letting out a heavy sigh.

At that time, he then turned to the Almighty saying, “Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX WEATHER

After the brief prayer, Laubhan returned to his play-by-play of the tornado’s path, noting that he was about to cross “the Highway 6 bridge in the next 20 or so seconds.”