Tornado Touches Down in Scotts Valley, Injuring Four After San Francisco Tornado Warning

A tornado touched down in Scotts Valley, California, on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least four people and causing damage to property. This event followed a historic tornado warning issued earlier that morning for San Francisco, the first ever in the city’s history.

The EF1 tornado, categorized as one of the weakest, struck Scotts Valley around 1:39 PM local time, lasting approximately five minutes. Winds reached an estimated 90 mph, flipping cars and downing power lines. At least two of the injured were transported to the hospital.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that the tornado was about 30 yards wide and traveled for a quarter of a mile before dissipating.

Earlier that morning, a powerful storm system swept through the San Francisco Bay Area, prompting a tornado warning for parts of downtown San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. Over a million residents received mobile phone alerts urging them to seek shelter. While the warning was short-lived, winds of up to 60 mph caused damage and power outages.

This event comes just a week after San Francisco experienced its first-ever tsunami warning following a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the northern coast of California.

As of Sunday, over 50,000 customers along the northern and central California coast remained without power. The NWS Bay Area issued a coastal flood advisory, urging residents to avoid the seaside until Monday.