Weather
Injuries reported after tornado touched down in Scotts Valley
According to a preliminary survey, the tornado was classified as an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Scotts Valley, CA – Severe weather wreaked havoc across the United States over the weekend, with a tornado striking near a shopping mall in Scotts Valley, California, overturning vehicles, uprooting trees, and sending several people to the hospital.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, authorities issued the city’s first-ever tornado warning.
The tornado touched down near Scotts Valley, approximately 70 miles south of San Francisco, around 1:40 p.m. on Saturday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the tornado caused significant damage, particularly along Mount Hermon Road.
A tornado was reported to have touched down in Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz County, the NWS says.https://t.co/WEtYDDdbzU pic.twitter.com/6skkGu2ZXS— News Channel3 Now (@newschannel3now) December 14, 2024
According to a preliminary survey, the tornado was classified as an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The tornado overturned at least six vehicles, toppled utility poles, uprooted trees, and damaged several businesses in the area, including a Target and a McDonald’s.
Notably, their iconic signs were destroyed. Scotts Valley Police Department reported five injuries from the event. Four individuals were treated and released from the hospital, while one person remains hospitalized with a punctured lung.
Among those impacted was a CAL FIRE battalion chief whose vehicle was briefly lifted by the tornado.
He was hospitalized as a precaution and is reportedly in good condition.
Mount Hermon Road, the epicenter of the tornado’s impact, remains closed between Scotts Valley Drive and Lockewood Drive. Police expect the road to reopen on Sunday morning after Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) completes repairs to damaged power lines and poles.
The damage assessment is ongoing, and there is currently no estimate of the total financial loss caused by the tornado.
While Scotts Valley bore the brunt of the tornado, San Francisco issued its first-ever tornado warning.
This rare alert was prompted by rapidly intensifying conditions in the area. Although no tornado touchdown has been confirmed within the city, damage consistent with high winds was reported, including fallen trees, debris in the streets, and damaged rooftops.
Meteorologist Roger Gass from the NWS office in Monterey emphasized the significance of the warning, noting that it marked the first advanced tornado alert for San Francisco since records began.
The last known tornado in the city occurred in 2005, striking without a warning.
The tornado in California was part of a larger system of inclement weather impacting the nation. In the Midwest, a significant ice storm created hazardous driving conditions in Iowa and Nebraska, forcing temporary closures of Interstate 80.
Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a snowstorm dumped over 33 inches of lake-effect snow near Orchard Park, leading to treacherous conditions.
The National Weather Service continues to monitor ongoing severe weather threats across multiple states. Residents in affected areas are urged to remain cautious and adhere to local safety warnings.
HART COUNTY, KY – A woman Amy Philpott and her 7-year-old child, Charlotte Philpott, tragically lost their lives after their vehicle was swept away by flash flooding in the Bonnieville community of Hart County on Saturday night, authorities confirmed.
According to Hart County Coroner Tony Roberts, emergency responders from Campbellsville and Hart County were dispatched to Campground Road near Bacon Creek following reports of a water rescue.
Despite their best efforts, rising floodwaters and hazardous nighttime conditions forced crews to halt rescue operations before they could safely retrieve the victims and their vehicle.
Rescue teams recovered the child’s body from the submerged vehicle late Saturday night, but efforts to locate the mother had to be suspended until conditions improved.
On Sunday morning, search teams resumed recovery efforts and successfully retrieved the mother’s body later in the day.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Louisville reported that the tragic incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, when the victims’ vehicle was overtaken by rapidly rising floodwaters.
The devastating floods have wreaked havoc across Kentucky, triggering over 1,000 rescues as emergency teams race to assist those stranded by rising waters.
At least eight fatalities have been confirmed so far, with officials warning that the death toll may rise as search-and-rescue efforts continue.
“This is one of the most serious weather events we’ve dealt with in at least a decade,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated on Sunday.
Victims have been reported in Hart, Pike, and Clay counties, with many fatalities involving vehicles caught in floodwaters. Gov. Beshear urged residents to avoid driving in flooded areas to prevent further loss of life.
In Clay County, officials confirmed that a 73-year-old man was found dead in floodwaters, according to Revelle Berry, Deputy Director of County Emergency Management.
Widespread Impact Across the State
- Nearly 40,000 residents remain without power.
- 9,800 service connections are currently without water.
- 26,000 residents are under a boil-water advisory.
- Pike County School District announced indefinite school closures due to the disaster.
On Sunday, Gov. Beshear announced that President Donald Trump had approved his request for federal disaster relief funding to assist impacted communities.
Parts of Kentucky and Tennessee were inundated with up to six inches of rainfall over the weekend, according to Bob Oravec, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service.
“The effects will continue for a while—a lot of swollen streams and a lot of flooding still happening,” Oravec warned. “Even when the rain stops, floodwaters can linger for much longer.”
In addition to the devastation in Kentucky, officials confirmed that a levee in Rives, Tennessee, failed Saturday afternoon, flooding nearby neighborhoods. The extent of the impact remains unclear, and authorities are continuing to assess the damage.
Authorities are urging residents to remain cautious, avoid flooded roads, and follow local emergency guidelines as rescue and recovery efforts continue.