As officials warn of damaging winds, flooding rain and blizzard-like snow, California also may face another form of severe weather: tornadoes.
A rare alignment of atmospheric conditions will set the stage for potential waterspouts and tornadoes along the California coast Tuesday night through Friday. That window for potential twisters is much longer than usual and, while risk is low for any specific place, meteorologists and climate scientists say it is possible that someplace will see a tornado. The Central Valley also is at risk of funnel clouds and tornadoes Wednesday.
- California weather updates:Latest timeline for peak impacts of the storm
This is “the most favorable setup for more than a couple waterspouts/brief tornadoes than I’ve seen in quite some time in this part of the world,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The tornado risk was forecast to come in waves. A cold front approaching the coast Tuesday night could spin up waterspouts or a brief tornado anywhere from Crescent City (Del Norte County) to Santa Barbara. The threat will expand toward Los Angeles on Wednesday as a line of storms moves eastward, bringing downpours and erratic winds with it.
Wednesday afternoon will present a window for severe thunderstorms in the Central Valley. The tornado risk is highest from roughly Chico to Fresno, particularly if sunshine pokes through the clouds. That would heat the ground and add instability to the lower atmosphere.
Tornado chances are highest in the Bay Area on Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Residents should have multiple ways of receiving emergency notifications should a tornado warning be issued overnight…