The Big Picture
A rare tornado hit Scotts Valley, California, on Saturday, leaving five people injured and causing significant damage. Tornadoes are an uncommon weather event in California, which is more accustomed to wildfires and earthquakes.
Details of The Tornado
Location: Scotts Valley, about six miles north of Santa Cruz.
Time: The tornado touched down just after 1:30 p.m.
Intensity: Classified as an EF1 tornado by the National Weather Service, it had a peak wind speed of 90 mph and traveled about 30 yards.
Impact zone: The most severe damage occurred on Mount Hermon Road, the city's main retail district.
Injuries and Damage
Five individuals were injured, most while sitting in cars that were flipped over by the tornado.
Three people were treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, while two others declined medical treatment.
Damage included overturned vehicles, damaged buildings, and downed utility poles.
Emergency Response
Scotts Valley Police Captain Scott Garner noted that responding officers initially believed they were handling a multi-vehicle crash. Upon arrival, they encountered the aftermath of the tornado, with telephone poles at unusual angles and widespread debris.
Context: Tornadoes in California
The state averages about 11 tornadoes annually, primarily in the central and northern valleys.
Tornado warnings are rare for the Bay Area, making this event highly unusual.
Storm Conditions and Power Outages
The tornado was part of an intense storm system that brought heavy rain and high winds to Northern and Central California:
Power outages:
As of Saturday morning, over 171,000 PG&E customers were without power due to 1,300 separate outages.
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was among the hardest-hit areas, with 3,221 customers affected.
In total, about 13,000 residents in the city were left without power.
Tornado warning:
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning early Saturday for northern San Mateo County and parts of downtown San Francisco, which alarmed residents unaccustomed to such alerts.
What’s Next?
Authorities are assessing the damage in Scotts Valley and working to restore power to affected areas. This unusual tornado serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of extreme weather events, even in regions where they are not typically expected.
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