A tornado hit Scotts Valley, a town located approximately 55 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least four people and causing significant damage. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the tornado was classified as EF1, one of the weakest categories, with wind speeds reaching up to 90 mph (145 km/h). The tornado touched down at approximately 1:39 p.m. local time and lasted for about five minutes, leaving a path about 400 meters long and 30 yards wide.

The twister flipped several vehicles and brought down power lines, leading to major disruptions in the area. Local authorities reported that at least two of the injured individuals were hospitalized, while the others sustained less severe injuries. Emergency crews worked overnight to clear debris and make repairs, including road closures to allow for the necessary work.

The tornado in Scotts Valley came just hours after San Francisco was issued its first-ever tornado warning, triggered by thunderstorms sweeping through the region. The warning, which affected parts of downtown San Francisco and northern San Mateo County, was issued at 6:00 a.m. local time. More than one million residents received alerts on their mobile phones urging them to take shelter as winds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h) affected the area. However, the warning was lifted shortly after, as the storm moved through the city.

While San Francisco has not experienced a tornado in nearly two decades, the city saw its last tornado in 2005, although it occurred without clear radar signals, and no warning was issued. San Mateo County, a neighboring area, was last placed under a tornado warning in 2011.

In addition to the tornado, Saturday’s storm caused widespread power outages, leaving over 50,000 customers in northern and central California without electricity as of Sunday. Fallen trees and damaged infrastructure contributed to the ongoing disruptions. The NWS also issued a coastal flood advisory, urging residents to stay away from the coastline as the storm continued to impact the region.

This rare series of weather events comes just a week after San Francisco received its first-ever tsunami warning, which was later rescinded without any reported injuries.