The National Weather Service is now assessing the damage caused by a tornado that struck the city of Montebello in Southern California. According to the National Weather Service, the tornado struck the city about 11:20 a.m. PT on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, less than 10 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld with the weather service said, “It’s definitely not something that’s common for the region”.
Alex Gillman, a city spokesman said that one person was injured and was taken to a hospital in Montebello. He didn’t know the severity of the injury. Several streets in the city were shut down due to a weather-related issue.
At around 8 p.m. ET, the National Weather Service verified that a tornado had struck Montebello, but added, “we are still assessing the damage.”
**MONTEBELLO UPDATE**
Our damage survey team has officially confirmed that there was a TORNADO in Montebello around 11:20 AM on 3/22/23. No EF rating yet, we are still assessing the damage! A full report will be coming late this evening.EF Scale: https://t.co/VWCYSkHMN6
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 23, 2023
Earlier in the day, multiple Twitter videos were posted and shared with local TV stations showing what appeared to be roof parts ripped off buildings and debris twisting in the sky, as well as several cars being pushed around and damaged.
Alex Cheney said, “Wow!! A possible tornado touched down in #Montebello”.
Wow!! A possible tornado touched down in #Montebello the power is out for a few blocks and there is a lot of damage #cawx Video from Daniel Wilsey pic.twitter.com/cytRunZnRW
— Alex Cheney (@abc7alex) March 22, 2023
Damage reports are still being compiled by the National Weather Service. On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 afternoon, the NWS announced that they will be sending a survey team to Montebello to look into the reports of a probable tornado there.
In March, 21,2023 the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado destroyed many mobile homes in the Santa Barbara community of Carpinteria with winds of up to 75 miles per hour.
Our damage survey team has completed the assessment of the tornado in Carpinteria yesterday and have given it an EF0 rating with winds estimated up to 75 mph.
**They are now on their way to Montebello and we will update you on the assessment LATER ON.**https://t.co/te8O8tBoYr
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 22, 2023
There were seventeen buildings inspected and eleven of them were deemed uninhabitable by the fire department’s red tags. Many vehicles were also harmed.
The last time the Los Angeles office of the meteorological service sent out tornado assessment teams was in 2016, near Fillmore in Ventura County, where it was concluded that a tiny twister had touched down, according to Schoenfeld.
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