The San Fran Tornadoes-Jul. 24, 1986

Jul. 24, 1986: What was supposed to have been a beautiful morning, was instead something else rather unexpected.

At around 8 am, weather spotters phoned the NWS about a large cluster of very strong rotating storms that seemed to have been around for some time. Not many in S.F. knew at the moment, but as they drew closer, the sky began to grow ominously darker, until.........

At around 8:35 am, a tornado emergency was issued for the entire western half of the Bay Area, the first ever. It was only the beginning of what was to be one of the worst tornado outbreaks in NorCal history. 55 tornadoes killed 79 people in all, including 51 in the Bay Area alone, 44 from the San Fran-Concord tornado alone.
It was originally rated an F4, but in 2012, it was given an EF-5 rating on the new Enhanced version of the Fujita scale. Thankfully, though, Bay Area hasn't suffered this badly from inclement weather since then.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• San
• Francisco
• 1986
• eas
• tornado
• emergency
• rare
• event
• ronald
• reagan

[Davemeister22]

Wonderful! I look forward to seeing those new videos, SanFran90!

Happy storm watching.

[SanFran90]

@Davemeister22: You too, Dave. I may be able to get more up within a week, I think. Wish me luck.

[Davemeister22]

By the way, awesome disaster simulation video, SanFran90! My guess is that a tornado could potentially occur in reality further inland where the weather patterns are sometimes more unstable. In places such as California's Central Valley or east of Vancouver, BC in the Fraser Valley. Twisters have happened in bizarre places west of the Rockies such as Salt Lake City and even Creston, British Columbia. Maybe waterspouts could happen in your area, but I'm sure it's a very unlikely scenario.

[SanFran90]

@Davemeister22: Thanks. I've got some more videos coming eventually, but I just haven't decided where or when some of them will be set.

Stay tuned :-).

[19PeterF68]

Did this really happen? This don't sound like something that would happen in the San Francisco bay area I don't remember it ever happening. Did the bay area really experience midwest like weather?

[SanFran90]

@19PeterF68: Actually, the truth is, it was all made up for a story series I'd been planning way before I got around to posting this video.

Did you like this one? I'm going to try to make some more.

[timothyp873]

@19PeterF68 very very very rarely

[click420nick]

this never happened california doesnt get tornados we get earth quakes thats the only thing that hit san fran in the 80s

[TBirdSCIL]

@TaiYangTso- Wrigley Stadium? Noob.

[Davemeister22]

Well, I do hope that you get some incredible storm videos up soon, SanFran90! Good luck with the videos!

[TaiYangTso]

Oh Yeah I Almost Forget, When The Storm Approached Wrigley Stadium, The Sirens were Cut Off And Everyone Including Myself Was Panicking Like Fuck. I Was Almost Struck By Lightning.

[TaiYangTso]

Last Year Back in August Over here In Chicago There where 3 touchdowns of tornadoes and These Tornadoes Were In Other parts Of Northeastern Illinois As Well As Parts Of Indiana. I was At Wrigley Field Attending A Chicago Cubs Baseball Game. When The Sirens Went Off, The Game Had To Be Stopped. I was So Damn Pissed. Luckily at My House I Never Lost Power.