Possible tornado spotted in Sonoma County
PETALUMA, Calif. - A funnel cloud spotted in Sonoma County on Thursday is being investigated as a possible tornado by weather officials.
Video shot late this morning and sent to the Press Democrat, of what appears to be a tornado, was taken west of Petaluma in the community of Two Rock: population 900. Lou Stroerzinger, captain of the Gold Ridge Fire Department, says they have more cows and livestock than people.
Nonetheless, people who saw the video were alarmed.
The video was taken at around 11 a.m. from the vantage point of a landfill.
The National Weather Service is aware of the sighting. We await confirmation that the funnel cloud actually made contact with the ground. If it touched the ground it can be designated a tornado. If it happens over water, it's a water spout.
Dalton Behringer, a meteorologist with the NWS said the video certainly looks convincing that it is a tornado. "Officially, we have to call it a funnel cloud until we get confirmation that it was doing damage on the ground, had a ground circulation."
Behringer said it was surprising to see this over land that usually sees water spouts. So far there have been no reports or signs of damage.
KTVU meteorologist Bill Martin speculated with Lagunitas Reservoir in the area, that this could be a water spout. He said it's difficult to get a tornado in this area's hilly terrain. Tornadoes are typically fueled in flat, inland areas and are common in the Midwest and Great Plains region.
In March of 2011, a tornado touched down in Santa Rosa causing damage. Experts say conditions that precede a tornado include unstable weather clouds that have a bubbly formation, and scattered thunderstorms.
This phenomenon happened the morning after the Bay Area experienced an atmospheric river.
Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management sent a team out on Thursday afternoon to survey the area where the funnel cloud was spotted. The director of emergency management plans to have a team go back out to the area to talk to the person who took the video to get a more accurate location.
The NWS based in Monterey County is partnering with Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management to figure out if this funnel cloud was in fact a tornado.
People we spoke with in Two Rock and from nearby communities were surprised by the possibility that a tornado had touched down here.
"No way. That is insane," said one unidentified young man. Another woman, who did not give a name, said "We're not used to having tornadoes in this area. I wouldn't want to be in it. People who have tornadoes usually have a basement to go into. I don't think our California homes are built like that."
Another powerful storm is expected to hit the region on Sunday.