A rare tornado struck Scotts Valley, California, on Saturday afternoon, leaving five people injured and causing significant damage across the area. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the tornado occurred around 1:40 p.m., supported by radar signatures and video evidence.
The crews of NWS surveyors are working with local officials to evaluate the strength of the tornado and assign an official rating. Preliminary reports included overturned vehicles, toppled trees, and damaged power lines in the shopping district on Mt. Hermon Drive. A Target and McDonald’s sign was also destroyed in the chaos.
The injured individuals included four who had to spend time in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries – one of those was released from the hospital with the issue of a punctured lung. Among them was an injured CAL FIRE Battalion Chief whose vehicle the tornado picked up, CAL FIRE reported that he was sent to the hospital as a precaution and is now recovering quite well.
Local authorities closed Mount Hermon Road in all directions between Scotts Valley Drive and Lockwood Lane to let PG&E crews work on significant damage to power infrastructure. The road is expected to open Sunday morning.
Police and emergency responders have been advising residents to steer clear of the area while cleanup efforts are underway.
This tornado is not a common weather occurrence for Scotts Valley, which last witnessed it in 2005. Earlier today, a tornado warning was issued by the NWS for San Francisco and San Mateo counties; however, no tornadoes were reported during the time.
No estimate of damage, which is in terms of money, has been brought forth by the crews assessing damage as they continue to do that. The residents and businesses involved in the storm are going to experience a long recovery period.
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