Additional Coverage:
Christmas Day Tornado Touches Down in Boyle Heights Amidst Atmospheric River
Los Angeles, CA – Christmas Day brought more than just presents to the Boyle Heights neighborhood this year, as the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed an E0 tornado touched down amidst a powerful atmospheric river. The unusual event occurred while Southern California was drenched by up to eight inches of rain, making for a truly memorable holiday.
NWS officials launched an investigation Thursday morning after receiving multiple reports of damage, ultimately confirming the presence of a weak tornado. According to Dr. Ariel Cohen, the tornado stretched a quarter-mile long and 30 yards wide, packing winds of 80 mph.
This classification places it at the lowest end of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates tornadoes from 0 to 5 based on estimated wind speeds and the damage they inflict. An E0 tornado indicates wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph, while an E5 signifies winds exceeding 200 mph.
Despite the surprising meteorological event, thankfully, no injuries were reported. However, the tornado did leave a trail of minor damage, including shattered windows at a strip mall restaurant and a nearby residence, as captured in local videos. Boyle Heights resident Francisco Gonzalez also reported that his home’s roof sustained damage from the strong winds.
While a tornado warning had been issued for parts of the San Gabriel Valley on Christmas Eve during the height of the multi-day storm, there were no initial reports of an actual tornado.
Tornadoes are a rare occurrence in Southern California, though not entirely unprecedented during severe weather. This year alone has seen a few weak tornadoes.
In March, an 85 mph tornado caused damage in a Pico Rivera neighborhood, lasting for two minutes in the early morning hours. A month prior, a rare tornado in Oxnard, Ventura County, damaged a mobile home park.
Looking further back, March 2023 saw a tornado in Montebello, within Los Angeles County, rip the roof off a business and damage over a dozen other buildings. One of the more significant historical events occurred in 1983, when a tornado with winds between 113 and 157 mph devastated homes and businesses, flipped cars, and even tore part of the roof from the LA Convention Center.