Apparent tornado in Scotts Valley, California causes cars to roll over, sending several to the hospital

Apparent tornado in Scotts Valley, California causes cars to roll over, sending several to the hospital

An apparent tornado touched down in a small northern California town on Saturday, flipping cars, causing significant damage and sending several people to the hospital.

The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down in Scotts Valley, about 30 miles south of San Jose, around 1:40 p.m. local time.

According to a news release from the Scotts Valley Police Department, several people were taken to the hospital with injuries, but no deaths were reported.

“Emergency response teams are prioritizing those who need the most care and we continue to monitor the situation closely,” the police press release said.

The tornado caused “significant damage” in several areas, police said.

Photos posted by police on social media showed several cars turned on their sides on the roadway and in a shopping center parking lot.

The weather service confirmed the tornado using video, photos, witness reports and radar and said a survey team would continue to examine the damage on the ground to determine how strong it was.

According to the weather service, California averages about 11 tornadoes per year, typically in the fall and spring.

Early Saturday morning, the weather service issued the first tornado warning for San Francisco amid a powerful storm that knocked out power for thousands, according to ABC station KGO.

The tornado warning in San Francisco was lifted about 20 minutes later.

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