SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — Several people were injured, and significant damage was caused by a tornado on Saturday in Santa Cruz County.
The National Weather Service Bay Area office said a local storm report was issued for a tornado in Scotts Valley, a city over 140 miles southwest from Sacramento. The NWS said a tornado happened at 1:40 p.m. based on video, photos, firsthand accounts and radar signatures.
After 8:30 p.m., the NWS confirmed the weather event was categorized as an EF1 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The NWS said the tornado had estimated peak winds of 90 miles per hour with a path width of 30 yards.
The Scotts Valley Police Department said witness saw a tornado near a shopping district on Mount Herman Road, causing damage to powerlines, several vehicles to overturn and leaving tons of hazards and debris on the roadway. Police said several people were taken to nearby trauma center, but nobody was killed.
Police urged motorists to stay out of the area of Mount Herman Road between Lockwood Lane and Scotts Valley Drive, as that section of road is close throughout the night with powerlines being down.
The NWS said severe damage happened along Mount Hermon Road with downed trees, downed power lines, downed power poles, trees stripped of branches, numerous overturned vehicles, and damaged street signs.
The closure is to allow crews to repair the damaged powerlines and clean debris and hazards out of the roadway and the surrounding area.
Hours before the apparent tornado, San Francisco was issued its first tornado warning Saturday morning, which expired at 6:15 a.m. The tornado warning comes barely a week after the city was issued with its first Tsunami warning.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | Weekend Forecast: Heavy rain, snow, & strong winds move through Northern California