Weather Service Confirms Small Tornado Touched Down In South LA
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The National Weather Service has confirmed a small tornado touched down Friday morning during the heavy rainstorm in a South Los Angeles neighborhood.
Around 9 a.m., Greg Haywood and his client Ronnie captured video of what they reported as a possible wind devil or tornado, which traveled outside Tempo Barber Shop in the 5800 block of South Vermont Avenue at 59th Place.
CBS2's Kaj Goldberg took the mobile weather lab to South Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue to survey the damage and talk to residents in the area.
Goldberg reported the tornado took a northeasterly path, knocked down a sign then damaged the back of a Baptist church.
The tornado then tore off the roof of a home about a half block from the church and threw a metal barn-like structure about 40 yards.
Residents reported the 100-foot palm trees in the area were swaying in wind that easily reached up to 90 mph.
The strength of the tornado has not yet been determined.
