San Francisco, CA – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for parts of Northern California, including Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, as strong storms move through the region Wednesday afternoon.
According to the NWS, at 2:43 p.m. PDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles west of Boulder Creek, moving northeast at 55 mph. The storm is producing wind gusts up to 60 mph and small hail, posing a risk of damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Boulder Creek is among the areas expected to be impacted.
A second storm system was identified at 2:36 p.m. PDT, approximately 16 miles southwest of Woodside, moving northeast at 50 mph. This storm is also generating wind speeds of up to 60 mph and small hail, impacting cities such as Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, Woodside, and Portola Valley.
The NWS warns that tornadoes can develop quickly from these severe thunderstorms. Residents in the affected areas are urged to take immediate precautions, seeking shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
Authorities advise reporting severe weather conditions to local law enforcement or the NWS office in San Francisco. The storm system is expected to continue moving through the region into the late afternoon hours.
