storm in california?

Question

i'm just north of l.a., ca... it started getting pretty windy outside so i looked up the weather and there was a severe weather alert, this is what it says...

..THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE LOS ANGELES BASIN
IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE MOST OF ITS RAINFALL FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO
FRIDAY NIGHT. ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF
HEAVY RAINS AND SMALL HAIL. DUE TO THE COLD AND UNSTABLE NATURE OF
THIS STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM...CONDITIONS WILL ALSO
BE FAVORABLE FOR POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT AND FUNNEL CLOUD ACTIVITY.

oops sorry for the CAPS it just copied it that way... but seriously though, waterspouts and funnel clouds? i'm from ohio so we have tornadoes pretty regularly... i've never heard of one out here, and i've talked to lots of people out here about tornadoes. i know they can happen anywhere... but this sounds like an exaggeration? is it going to be that bad?

ps - any time it rains here people think it's a "storm" so...

Answer 1

First note that none of what was written in that statements meets the official definition of "severe" A funnel cloud is not severe unless it actually reaches the ground. Then it is called a tornado. If that happens, then it is severe. Also note that they are calling for a slight chance of thunderstorms, that usually means less than a 25 percent chance for just thunderstirms. A waterspout may be the closest thing to being severe in this statement, but the way it was worded, I would lean them being not. But, I do not want to down play this storm. As a matter of fact, I think the chances should be raised a little higher for thunderstorms given the history of this system. This system is a very cold for this time of year, so if the center of this low moves close to where you are, watch out. But if it mainly stays off the coast, then the slight chance wording will likely be correct.

The other concern I have is the strong winds circulating around the low. This relative strong winds just above the surface and combined with the fact that the air mass becoming unstable over southern CA today will mean that a few of these thunderstorms will be strong. So stay alert and keep updated with the latest forecasts for your area.

I think the main concern may be the locally strong winds with these thunderstorms. But nothing can be ruled out completely if strong thunderstorms do occur today. Just be alert.

Now to show you severe weather do occur in Southern CA, including tornadoes, take a look at the following link.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/rda/VTX.html

Note: I do not think there was ever a tornado that was ever classified to be higher than an F-2 in CA. So we don't have any recorded history of any long live "grinders" or monster tornadoes that you may see back in Ohio. And as far as I know, nobody has ever died due directly due a tornado in CA. But, that does not mean it will not happen in the future.

Answer 2

Between 1950 and 2004, LA has had 41 tornadoes:
21 F0
9 F1
5 F2
and 6 unknown strength ones

Answer 3

Yes they do happen, in this case an upper level low pressure that has been plaguing the Pacific Northwest over the weekend is now down in your area. This does cause unstable conditions and it is not uncommon to have this kind of violent weather. Don't worry about the all capital letters, the NWS does that on purpose These are called special weather statements and draw attention to them very quickly.

Answer 4

Yes funnel clouds do happen here in California. They even occasionally touch down. My aunt lives in Nebraska and the first time she saw a funnel cloud was when she was visiting us in California. Go figure.