Severe weather swept across the U.S. over the weekend, bringing heavy snow to upstate New York, a significant ice storm to the Midwest, severe weather alerts near Lake Tahoe, and rare tornado activity in Central California, as reported by 29 News.
On Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for downtown San Francisco and San Mateo County at approximately 6 a.m. PT (9 a.m. ET). The warning, believed to be the first recorded for the area, was lifted shortly after, the agency confirmed to USA TODAY.
However, nearby Scotts Valley was struck by the rare weather event, causing significant damage and injuring several people. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the tornado struck around 1:40 p.m., primarily affecting the area near Mount Hermon Road. Residents were encouraged to take shelter. “The biggest thing that we tell people in the city is to put as many walls between you and the outside as possible,” Meteorologist Dalton Behringer told 29 News.
Categorized as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the tornado overturned vehicles, toppled trees, and damaged utility poles and business signs, including those at Target and McDonald’s. Six cars were flipped by the powerful winds, and debris caused extensive destruction. YouTube Channel Wild WeatherUS captured the chaos in a video that has garnered over 52K views:
According to Scotts Valley police, five individuals sustained injuries. Four have since been released from the hospital, while one person remains hospitalized with a punctured lung. Among the affected was a CAL FIRE battalion chief whose vehicle was briefly lifted by the storm. CAL FIRE told KSBW “He was hospitalized out of an abundance of caution but is doing well.”
Mount Hermon Road remains closed between Scotts Valley Drive and Lockewood Lane to allow for repairs by PG&E and cleanup efforts. Police expect the closure to last through the night, with reopening planned for Sunday morning.
This tornado, alongside other severe weather across California, highlights the unusual nature of recent storms. San Francisco also experienced significant storm damage, with toppled trees and street closures. The last confirmed tornado in the city occurred nearly two decades ago in 2005, when an advance alert was not issued.
The NWS has not yet released a dollar estimate for the damage. Local authorities continue to assess the extent of the destruction as recovery efforts are underway. Residents are urged to remain cautious and heed official updates during this period of unpredictable weather.
