A potential tornado struck Boyle Heights on Christmas morning, prompting the National Weather Service to launch a survey that Friday afternoon.
The Incident
The storm that produced the damage was part of a multi-day system that brought strong winds and rain to Southern California during the holiday week. Residents reported damage to a strip mall and a nearby house, and video footage from the neighborhood shows wind-related destruction.
NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen said the agency received multiple reports of damage Thursday morning that was likely from a weak and brief tornado. There were no reports of injuries.
Video from the neighborhood showed wind damage at a strip mall and at least one nearby house.
On Christmas Eve, a tornado warning was issued for parts of Los Angeles’ San Gabriel Valley during the height of the multi-day storm. There were no reports of a tornado touching down.
Tornados are rare, but not unheard of during severe weather in Southern California.
National Weather Service Response
The National Weather Service issues three levels of tornado alerts to warn the public about the likelihood and presence of tornadoes: watch, warning, and emergency.
To determine whether a tornado touched down and its strength, survey teams examine damage patterns and apply the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on estimated wind speeds and damage.
An EF rating of 0 indicates wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph, while an EF5 indicates speeds over 200 mph.
The survey will be conducted Friday afternoon in Boyle Heights, east of downtown Los Angeles. Survey teams look at factors like a damage pattern to determine whether a tornado touched down and its strength on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen said the agency received multiple reports of damage Thursday morning that was likely from a weak and brief tornado. The survey will help confirm whether the damage fits the pattern of a tornado or is simply the result of straight-line winds.
Past Tornado History in Southern California
In March, a weak tornado with winds estimated at about 85 mph left a path of damage that extended for blocks in a Pico Rivera neighborhood early as a late winter storm brought rain and strong winds to Los Angeles County. The tornado, estimated at EF0 and lasting for about two minutes, was reported at about 3:15 a.m. near the community southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
In February, the NWS confirmed that a rare tornado formed in the Ventura County community of Oxnard. The weak tornado caused damage in a mobile home park.
In March 2023, the roof of a Montebello business was ripped off and more than a dozen other buildings were damaged by a tornado in Montebello.
In March 1983, a storm system off the coast of California unleashed a terrifying weather oddity south of downtown Los Angeles. A tornado packing winds between 113 and 157 mph destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars, hurled debris and ripped part of the roof from the LA Convention Center.
These events illustrate that while tornadoes are uncommon in Southern California, the region has experienced a range of tornado intensities, from EF0 to EF5, over the past several decades.
Key Takeaways
- The National Weather Service dispatched a survey team to Boyle Heights after reports of possible tornado damage on Christmas morning.
- Damage included wind-related destruction at a strip mall and a nearby house, with no injuries reported.
- Historical tornado activity in Southern California shows a mix of weak and strong events, confirming that tornadoes, though rare, can occur in the region.
As the survey proceeds, residents and officials will await the NWS findings to determine whether the Christmas-morning damage was indeed caused by a tornado or by the powerful winds that accompanied the holiday storm. The investigation will provide clarity and help prepare for future severe weather events in Southern California.
