Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area experienced a brief scare early this morning when the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for northwestern San Mateo County and San Francisco County. The severe thunderstorm, which spurred the warning, was detected near Daly City and showed signs of producing a tornado.
The warning, which has since ended, was based on radar-indicated rotation in the thunderstorm moving northeast at 45 mph. The potential tornado posed a significant threat to populated areas including San Francisco, Daly City, South San Francisco, Pacifica, and other nearby locations. "Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows and protect yourself from flying debris. If you are outdoors or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris," the advisory read, according to the National Weather Service's guidance.
As the warning was in effect, the National Weather Service San Francisco advised that torrential rainfall from the storm could lead to flash flooding and dangerous driving conditions on flooded roadways. Residents were urged to seek shelter immediately to protect against flying debris, a danger exacerbated in mobile homes which could be damaged or destroyed. Furthermore, gusts up to 60 mph were predicted, intensifying the risk of damage and power outages.
In related weather effects, Twin Peaks witnessed power fluctuations and sounds akin to a car engine starting before winds abated, the National Weather Service reported. Additionally, parts of San Francisco, including the Excelsior neighborhood, experienced outages, with streetlights and power going down over San Jose Avenue.
The incident, part of a larger dynamic weather system, was predicted to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Bay Area, a prediction that materialized in the early hours of Saturday morning. Despite the end of the tornado warning, the situation remains dynamic, and residents are advised to keep updated with the latest weather developments by checking sources such as live storm maps and the PG&E outage map for more information.
