In California, tornadoes are uncommon and often mild, though there have been a few noteworthy outliers. The history and science of the largest tornadoes to have hit the Golden State will be discussed in this article.
The Carr Fire Tornado
The fire tornado that developed during the Carr Fire near Redding in 2018 was the most recent and possibly the most amazing tornado in California history. This was the first real fire tornado ever observed in the United States and just the second in recorded history.
When extreme heat and powerful winds combine to generate a vortex, a revolving column of smoke and flames is known as a fire tornado, or firenado. Because they can create winds of over 100 mph, lightning, and flaming debris, fire tornadoes are exceedingly deadly and catastrophic natural disasters.
Based on estimated wind speeds of 143 mph, the Carr Fire tornado was classified as an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. It spanned almost an hour and measured roughly 1,000 feet in width and 18,000 feet in height. Three people lost their lives in the fire tornado, which also burned numerous homes and uprooted trees and electrical lines.
The Los Angeles Tornado
The 1987 tornado that struck Los Angeles was the most devastating tornado ever recorded in California in terms of property damage. On June 5, 1987, a strong thunderstorm passed over the city, resulting in the tornado. The tornado made landfall close to Los Angeles International Airport before advancing northeast and striking a number of residential and commercial districts.
With winds reaching 157 mph, the Los Angeles tornado was classified as an F2 on the Fujita scale. Its trail measured 200 yards in width and 6.5 miles in length. Without taking inflation into account, the estimated damage from the tornado was $25 million. Thirty individuals were hurt, while hundreds of cars, buildings, and electricity lines were either destroyed or severely damaged. There were no recorded deaths.
The Tornado at Sequoia National Park
In Sequoia National Park in 2004, the highest elevation for a confirmed tornado in the United States was reported. On July 7, 2004, a twister made landfall close to the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, at a height of about 12,156 feet.
With winds reaching 112 mph, the tornado in Sequoia National Park was classified as an F1 on the Fujita scale. The walkway measured fifty yards in width and 0.3 miles in length. There were no reported injuries or fatalities from the tornado, however, it did do some damage to rocks and trees. Numerous campers and hikers who witnessed the storm took pictures and videos of the unusual occurrence.
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In Summary
Although California is not recognized for having many tornadoes, as we have seen, the state has seen several exceptionally rare twister incidents. California has seen some of the most unusual and varied tornadoes in the world, from the Carr Fire tornado, the most potent and spectacular fire tornado ever recorded, to the Los Angeles tornado, the most expensive and destructive tornado in the state, and the Sequoia National Park tornado, the highest elevation tornado in the nation.