In an unprecedented weather event, San Francisco received its first-ever Tornado Warning early Saturday morning as an intense atmospheric river storm system swept through Northern California.
The National Weather Service issued the warning at 5:52 a.m., which remained active for approximately 20 minutes before being lifted. According to Meteorologist Lisa Argen, the last similar warning in the vicinity was issued for South San Francisco over four decades ago in the 1980s.
The powerful Level 3 storm brought severe weather conditions to the Bay Area, causing widespread power outages across the region. Local residents reported challenging conditions, with one Daly City resident describing the weather as "nasty outside."
While the Level 3 storm alert expired at 7 a.m., weather conditions remained unstable. The system was downgraded to a Level 2 storm, expected to further weaken to a Level 1 event throughout the day. Despite the decreasing intensity, strong winds continued to affect the area.
This rare weather phenomenon marks a notable moment in San Francisco's meteorological history, as the city had never before required a tornado warning since weather record-keeping began.
Weather officials continue to monitor the situation as the atmospheric river moves through Northern California, bringing unsettled conditions to the region.