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A Tornado Hit Ventura County
This isn't the first time a tornado has hit the area. In this photo a tornado funnel touches down in Riverside, CA in 2008. (Merri Lynn Casem/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Robert Garrova and Jessica Ogilvie contributed to this report.
Strange weather is afoot: The National Weather Service confirmed this morning that a tornado touched down in Ventura County near the Santa Clara River:
This morning we conducted a storm survey for possible tornado damage at @VenturaHarbor. We have confirmed that a narrow EF0 tornado touched down near the Santa Clara River and moved less than 1 mi NNW across the harbor. Damage was limited to trees, roof tiles, and canopies. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/F6ZifTWlOM
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 26, 2019
Orange County and Santa Barbara County got tornado warnings as well in the early hours of Thursday morning:
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Tornado Warning including Santa Ana CA, Irvine CA, Garden Grove CA until 12:30 AM PST pic.twitter.com/nD792IUGJa
— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) December 26, 2019
Those warnings were later cancelled.
This isn't the first time that Californians have seen twisters strike.
"They're more common than people realize," said Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist with the NWS. Historically, she added, California has seen about six tornadoes a year on average.
Most tornadoes occur in the northern parts of the state, but they can happen further south as well.
This morning's warning came after an increased level of rotation was observed at low levels in the atmosphere. Parts of Northern California were issued a warning as well:
Tornado Warning including Carpinteria CA, Montecito CA, Summerland CA until 10:30 PM PST pic.twitter.com/WbIy4JaX6I
— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) December 26, 2019
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Tornadoes in California typically occur outside of population centers, and aren't as strong as they are in other parts of the country. But if a warning is issued in your area, Hoxsie suggests heading for the bathroom.
"Bathrooms tend to be smaller rooms, which means structurally, they're stronger," she said.
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