National Weather Service explains reasoning for not issuing Tornado Warning for Scotts Valley
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) – The National Weather Service is offering an explanation as to why a tornado warning wasn't issued for Scotts Valley as the EF1 tornado reached the grounds near a busy shopping center on Saturday.
The initial survey from the NWS found the event lasted from 1:39 pm to 1:44 pm.
The EF1 rating was based on the 90 mph winds that churned from the tornado on Saturday, resulting in multiple injuries and extensive damage.
When asking about the tornado warning not being issued, the National Weather Service pointed to the warning issued in San Francisco that same day.
"That storm exhibited probably a more intense rotation signature on radar than the one in Scotts Valley, initially," said NWS Meteorologist Dalton Behringer. "That's why the warning was issued right off the bat for San Francisco. Also [the tornado] going into a major city tipped the scales [for us] to be a little more on the safe side, too. This likely triggered a quicker issuance."
Behringer referred to the damage from the storm as "surprising," and hopes it serves as a reminder for people to stay weather-aware for future storms.
Even days after the storm people remain shaken by what happened in Scotts Valley. Thankfully, no one died as a result of injuries suffered during the tornado.
NWS Bay Area rates Scotts Valley tornado an EF1
The National Weather Service is rating the Scotts Valley Tornado an EF1 after a survey by the agency.
According to the NWS, the event lasted from 1:39 pm to 1:44 pm, traveling at a length of 0.31 miles and a width of 30 yards, with winds reaching 90 mph.
The EF Scale rates a tornado at EF1 if it reaches between 86 mph to 110 mph.
"A wide range of damage was observed, including downed trees, power poles and trees stripped of branches,' the NWS said.
It also cited numerous overturned vehicles and damaged street signs.
Tornado flips cars upside down in Scotts Valley, injuries reported
A tornado touched down in Scotts Valley around 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Several cars were flipped over with the powerful winds that lasted just a few minutes.
Several people were treated for minor injuries where the cars were flipped over on Mount Hermon Road.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service for the area at 1:30 p.m. Our managing editor at the scene reported seeing debris flying through the air.
KION’s Chief Meteorologist Dann Cianca says this tornado was spawned by a supercell thunderstorm. Supercells have rotating updrafts called mesocyclones that can sometimes also aid in tornado development. While the tornado itself was not evident on radar, the storm's rotation was obvious. It's possible that the tornado was also accompanied by damaging straight-line winds in the area.
The National Weather Service Bay Area confirming the Tornado on its X page.
