Tornado causes damage in Pico Rivera with EF0-level winds

In the early hours of Thursday, March 13, 2025, an EF-0 tornado hit the community of Pico Rivera in Los Angeles County, California, causing significant damage to both residential properties and vehicles. The tornado, which had peak wind speeds estimated at 85 mph, lasted approximately two minutes and left a path of destruction about a mile long. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that this event was a rare occurrence in the Los Angeles area, where tornadoes are typically weak and isolated. Residents reported substantial damage, including roofs being torn off homes and large trees uprooted, which posed further risks as they fell onto houses and cars. Although the storm led to an 'extreme wind event,' officials confirmed that there were no injuries reported during this incident. As a precautionary measure, the local government advised residents to be prepared for such events in the future. Public works crews mobilized quickly to clear debris and fallen trees from the impacted streets, while utility teams from Southern California Edison worked diligently to restore power to affected households. Meteorologists and NWS officials assessed the damage as they monitored the weather system and gathered eyewitness accounts. The tornado's development was attributed to a shallow meso-vortex forming within a small quasi-linear convective system that was present in the area at the time. This tornado event followed a larger and strong storm system that also caused flooding in other parts of the Greater L.A. area. Residents were understandably shaken by the incident, and local authorities communicated the importance of readiness for unexpected severe weather. Los Angeles has seen its share of tornadoes, although they are infrequent; notably, another tornado struck nearby Montebello mere weeks ago in February 2025, which had been rated as an EF-1 and resulted in injuries and property damage, marking it as one of the strongest tornadoes in the region for decades. Officials worked to minimize the impacts of such severe weather, educating residents on how to respond should another tornado occur in the future.