First Tornado Warning on Record in San Francisco Issued Saturday

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16 Dec 2024 9:00 AM

UPDATE

Storm survey crews determined the damage during this Tornado Warning was caused by straight-line winds and not a tornado.


Residents in San Francisco had a rude awakening Saturday morning, thanks to the first ever tornado warning issued in the county and city. Tornado warnings have been issued just south in San Mateo county previously, but for San Francisco proper, this was a first on record.

The warning was issued right around 6 AM PST as a line of strong thunderstorms approached the coast. Rotation was evident on radar (above), potentially producing a waterspout offshore, before the area of rotation moved into San Francisco county, apparently just south of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The area of rotation tracked along the north side of San Francisco near the 101 and the Marina District, before dissipating in the Bay.

Another round of storms later in the day produced a tornado near Santa Cruz, causing damage.

More active weather is on the way for California next week and that could bring more heavy rain, snow and strong winds to the Golden State.

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