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Small Tornado Tears Off Tin Roof In Santa Rosa

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) -- The National Weather Service says a strong burst of wind that ripped off a roof and downed power lines in Santa Rosa was a small tornado.

Meteorologist Steve Anderson says it's the first time a tornado has touched down in the San Francisco Bay Area in about a decade.

The weather phenomenon that struck shortly after 9 a.m. Friday initially was described as a downburst.

The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa reported that witnesses described shaking and roaring as a 150-foot section of tin roof on a shed at a landscaping business came off. Four workers were inside the business as the time, but no injuries were reported.

To the south, a tornado warning was issued briefly for San Mateo County late Friday morning, but there were no reports of any twisters.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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