Weather officials are currently investigating a possible tornado report out of San Clemente, following a strong October storm that has brought significant rainfall across Southern California. The National Weather Service (NWS) San Diego office announced Thursday that a team is surveying the San Clemente Golf Course after receiving a report of a suspected tornado. The initial report indicated a tree may have been damaged by the twister. While the NWS received this information around noon on Thursday, officials noted that the exact time the tree might have been struck remains uncertain.
Beyond the Orange County coast, the NWS also issued a warning for the San Gabriel Valley, indicating the potential for a weak tornado as a strong thunderstorm moved through the area. Residents in cities including San Dimas, Glendora, West Covina, Pomona, La Verne, Azusa, and Walnut were advised to be aware of possible wind gusts between 50 and 55 miles per hour, alongside half-inch hail. The weather agency cautioned that "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects," adding that minor hail damage to vegetation was also a possibility.
While the idea of a tornado touching down in Southern California might sound unusual, these events, though rare, are not entirely unprecedented. The region typically sees about a dozen mostly weak twisters reported statewide each year. Over time, some have been noted in places like Carson and Boyle Heights, reminding us that even our generally sunny skies can occasionally produce surprising weather.
The larger storm system that prompted these warnings first arrived in Los Angeles County on Wednesday. It brought with it periods of heavy rain, immediately raising concerns about potential flooding, particularly along the Malibu coast and within the Santa Monica Mountains. As of Thursday, a flood watch remained in effect for areas such as Malibu, Malibu Bowl, Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and sections of both the eastern and western Santa Monica Mountains. Forecasters warned residents that heavy rainfall could lead to flooding in urban and poorly drained areas, including local streets, creeks, and rivers. Additionally, locations near steep hillsides and recent wildfire burn scars faced increased risks of runoff, mud, and debris hazards.
Across much of Los Angeles County, overall rainfall totals from this multiday storm were expected to average around 1.5 inches. However, some areas could see between 2 to 3 inches, particularly where the terrain enhanced the rainfall or where thunderstorms delivered concentrated downpours. Along the coastline, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms were projected to continue affecting ocean waters into Thursday evening. These conditions carried the potential for lightning, erratic wind gusts, rough seas, and even waterspouts. A beach hazards statement was also in effect through late Thursday night for parts of the Los Angeles County coastline, anticipating elevated surf and dangerous rip currents. Minor beach erosion and tidal overflow were also noted as possibilities in low-lying coastal areas.
