Unusual Twisters: Tornadoes in California

California, known for its sunny beaches and Hollywood glam, isn't a place you'd typically associate with tornadoes. But guess what? They do happen there! In fact, just last Christmas, a tornado whipped through Los Angeles, causing quite a stir. This wasn't a massive, mile-wide twister like the ones you might see in the Midwest. No, this was a smaller, EF-0 tornado, the weakest kind on the Enhanced Fujita scale. It only traveled about a third of a mile, but it still managed to cause some damage. It started by damaging a home on Lee Street, ripping off part of the roof and letting rainwater seep inside. Then, it moved on to a strip mall, breaking windows, bending a utility pole, and destroying some business signs. Residents nearby described the storm as roaring and shaking their houses. It's not something you'd expect to hear about in sunny California, right? But it's not the first time tornadoes have hit the state. In fact, there have been several in the past few years.Just last year, a tornado in Scotts Valley lasted about five minutes and injured three people. It was a bit stronger than the Christmas tornado, with wind speeds peaking at 90 mph. It overturned vehicles, damaged street signs, and downed trees and power poles. In February, another tornado in Oxnard tore roofs off mobile homes and ripped power cables to the ground. And in March, a tornado in Pico Rivera uprooted trees, sending them crashing into vehicles and homes. The strongest tornado to hit L. A. County in 40 years was in 2023. It was an EF-1, with winds of 110 mph. It damaged 17 buildings and injured one person. The last time a tornado this strong hit L. A. County was back in 1983. That one injured 25 people and destroyed 37 homes. So, while California might not be Tornado Alley, it's not completely safe from these twisters either. It's always important to stay informed and prepared, no matter where you live.