A rare tornado swept through Northern California on Saturday, causing significant damage as the swirling winds flipped cars, affected homes and businesses, and left thousands without power.
Images and footage from Santa Cruz County revealed that Scotts Valley was the most severely impacted area, with Christmas shoppers seeking refuge as the intense weather passed through the region.
In one video, a woman was heard shouting, "Let’s go home, let’s go home," as debris struck the couple’s car on a major road around 1:30 p.m. local time.
Local officials reported several injuries and significant damage from the brief tornado, which was classified as an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with winds reaching 90 mph.
The Police Department stated that some local roads remained closed throughout the evening and were expected to stay closed until at least Sunday morning. This closure was necessary to facilitate repairs to damaged power lines and equipment, as well as to allow crews to clear debris and other hazards from the roads and nearby areas.
Several hours earlier, San Francisco experienced its first-ever Tornado Warning as a powerful storm system swept across the state.
National Weather Service survey crews examined the damage caused by the storm and estimated that straight-line winds of approximately 80 mph were responsible.
At the peak of the severe weather, PowerOutage.us reported over 128,000 power outages in California, predominantly affecting areas south of the Bay Area and in the Sierra Nevada.
How common are tornadoes in California?
According to a NOAA database, tornadoes are quite rare in many parts of the western U.S. Since 1950, California has reported fewer than 500 tornadoes, resulting in injuries but no fatalities.
The NWS office in Sacramento notes that, on average, 11 tornadoes occur each year, primarily during the spring and fall.
The recent atmospheric river event that triggered severe weather is expected to ease by Sunday, with another round of heavy rainfall forecast to reach the coast on Monday and Tuesday.
A satellite image of the powerful storm system affecting the California coastline on Saturday.
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