Rare EF-1 Tornado Strikes Scotts Valley, California, Causing Injuries and Damage

California experiences a highly unusual tornado event, with five injuries reported and significant damage in Scotts Valley's commercial district.

The EF-1 tornado, with winds peaking at 90 mph, touched down in Scotts Valley on Saturday, overturning vehicles, toppling trees, and damaging power lines and businesses.
Five people sustained injuries, including a Cal Fire battalion chief whose vehicle was flipped; three individuals were hospitalized, with no fatalities reported.
The tornado lasted approximately five minutes, traveled a quarter mile, and created a 30-yard-wide path of destruction in the town's shopping district.
Earlier that morning, San Francisco received its first-ever tornado warning, though the city experienced straight-line winds up to 83 mph rather than a tornado.
Tornadoes are rare in California, with the state averaging 11 annually; experts are investigating the atmospheric conditions that led to this unusual event.