Community Corner

UPDATE: Tornado Warning for San Mateo County Expires

A tornado warning for San Mateo County was issued this morning, but has since expired.

A tornado warning for San Mateo County issued by the National Weather Service expired at 11:30 a.m. with no report of damage, a meteorologist with the weather service said.

The National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning for San Mateo County at around 11 a.m. as sudden storm conditions – including high winds and squalls – hit the region.

The warning was supposed to be in place until 11:30 a.m. today due to a severe thunderstorm in the area. The warning is for the cities of San Mateo, San Carlos, Redwood City, Millbrae, Foster City, Burlingame, Belmont, Hillsborough and Half Moon Bay, according to the weather service.

Find out what's happening in Burlingame-Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Winds of 30 to 40 mph, small hail and rain were reported, but not a tornado, said meteorologist Steve Anderson.

The heavy part of the storm has passed through the Peninsula, and "once it got over the Bay, it decreased in intensity rapidly," he said. The storm was moving through Alameda and Contra Costa counties as of 11:40 a.m. he said. 

Find out what's happening in Burlingame-Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

People caught outside during a tornado should seek shelter in a nearby reinforced  building, or at last resort, seek shelter in a culvert.

Already this morning, a funnel cloud actually did touch down in the North Bay and demolish a structure at a landscaping business in west Santa Rosa, according to reports.

Sue Minnigerode, owner of the Sequoia Landscaping Materials, said she looked outside when she heard the wind howling around 9:45 a.m. and saw pieces of her 100-foot-long metal-framed shed fly onto nearby Pacific Avenue. Debris from the shed landed in nearby power lines and on properties three houses away, she said. Rain is expected to continue this afternoon and tonight, with some thunderstorms expected to produce small hail. South winds will continue with gusts to around 45 mph and lows in the 40s.

Rain is likely for Saturday, with highs in the lower 50s.

--  Bay City News and Staff Reports


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here