FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Storm Survey Team report from the National Weather Service in Hanford confirms three tornados officially touched down in Central California on Tuesday.
Meteorologists Brandolyn Baeza, Alex Cooke and Kris Mattarochia assessed damage near Biola (located at Floyd and Clinton avenues), damage 8.5 miles northeast of Clovis (located at Academy and Shepherd avenues) and damage 3 miles west of Atwater (located at Atwater Jordan Road & Central avenue).
The first tornado touched down near Biola as an EF-0 at 2:10 p.m and lasted two minutes. The tornado’s estimated wind peak was 70 mph, and its path length was 50 yards, while its width was 5 yards.
Meteorologists say the second and third tornadoes were rated as EF-1’s.
The tornado in Atwater touched down at 3:30 p.m. and lasted nine minutes with an estimated wind peak of 110 mph. Its path length was half a mile, and its width was 150 yards.
Action News reported on the damage to an Atwater home believed to be caused by the EF-1 tornado. Those who captured the tornado on video were in disbelief.
“I have a nephew that lives in Kansas. I was like, ‘Dude, you’re the one in Kansas. We’re the ones in Atwater. There’s not supposed to be no tornadoes over here. They’re supposed to be over there,” said witness Jesus Duran.
Duran’s family was home when the storm passed through, but no injuries were reported.
The tornado just northeast of Clovis touched down at 5:09 p.m. and lasted seven minutes with an estimated wind peak of 95 mph. Its path length was also half a mile but its width was 75 yards.
“It was whipping. I had never seen it that powerful here in the Valley,” Wright said.
Wright says his family will be focused on cleanup and dealing with insurance as they begin to pick up the pieces.
NWS Hanford adds the reported information is still preliminary and could change during a final review.
