San Francisco is recovering from a stormy Saturday morning that left downed trees, power outages, and plenty of questions. Meteorologists are working to confirm whether tornadoes touched down during the city’s first-ever tornado warning.
Ongoing Investigation
National Weather Service (NWS) scientists are assessing damage in areas like Golden Gate Park and the Richmond District to determine if tornadoes struck. Using radar technology and surveying tree damage, they’re looking for evidence of tornado activity, said Cynthia Palmer, an NWS meteorologist.
“We should know later this evening whether or not it’s going to be deemed as tornado damage,” Palmer said.
Clues in the Damage
Experts identify tornado damage by looking for trees that fall in a crisscrossed, convergent pattern, rather than all in the same direction. A similar storm near Scotts Valley, south of San Francisco, was confirmed to have spawned a tornado on Saturday afternoon, according to the NWS.
Tornadoes in the Bay Area: Rare but Possible
Though uncommon, tornadoes do occur in the Bay Area. They often begin as waterspouts over the ocean and move onto land, becoming tornadoes, said Lamont Bain, another NWS meteorologist.
Saturday’s storm stood out because local radar detected “tornado vortex signatures,” which prompted the tornado warning for San Francisco. These radar signals suggest conditions were ripe for tornado activity.
Impact on the City
The storm caused significant disruption across San Francisco. According to the city’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM), the main impacts were downed trees, damaged electrical equipment, and power outages. The DEM received 120 storm-related service calls, including reports of electrical hazards and vehicle collisions.
The DEM activated its Emergency Operations Center and is working with other departments to assess the full extent of the storm’s damage, said Jackie Thornhill, a DEM communications officer.
As scientists work to determine whether tornadoes officially struck San Francisco, the storm has left the city on high alert and served as a reminder of how unpredictable weather can impact even areas unaccustomed to such events.(*)
Source: sfgate.com
