L.A. coast slammed by tornado-like storm that flips car, floods streets, strands motorists

[tabatha]

L.A. coast slammed by tornado-like storm that flips car, floods streets, strands motorists
January 19, 2010 | 1:54 pm

A new storm with tornado-like strength pounded the Southern California coast this afternoon, flipping a car, causing major street flooding, damaging homes and stranding motorists.

Witnesses reported seeing a tornado touch down in Sunset Beach this afternoon and lift boats out of the water as it came onshore, sheriff’s officials said.

Sheriff’s deputies were responding to reports that a tornado or waterspout had touched down near Anderson Street and Pacific Coast Highway, lifting several catamarans 30 feet to 50 feet in the air, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino.

Flooding and loose boats were reported throughout Sunset Beach and Huntington Harbor, he said. A KCAL television news report showed footage of a sport-utility vehicle that flipped over in Sunset Beach by the storm.

Hundreds of vehicles were stuck on the 710 Freeway in Long Beach this afternoon in rain-caused floods, authorities said. Firefighters responded this afternoon to the 710 Freeway between Ocean Boulevard and 6th Street, said Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Hayes, attempting to remove hundreds of vehicles that were floating in standing water. Other rain-related flooding was reported throughout Long Beach, Hayes said, including several intersections that were blocked with floating vehicles.

The Los Angeles Police Department has called a tactical alert and is evacuating homes in San Pedro. The department has also shutdown an area between Pacific and Gaffey and 4th and 7th streets hit by the worst of the flood. Officials say a lightning strike hit the Conoco refinery, causing a small fire.

The National Weather Service has canceled a tornado warning for Los Angeles County, but a warning remains for Orange County.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/southern-california-coast-slammed-by-tornado-like-storm.html

[Greyskye]

1. Wow.

Sounds like the plot of a SyFy channel movie.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. See. You vote Republican and the end of the world happens.

THANKS A LOT MASSACHUSETTS!

[la la]

3. near our house-

calls to area residents from the Seal Beach Police Dept., warning us about it---i guess it was very scary, especially since the beach area was already flooded.

maybe this means the tide has turned and martha wins
<fingers crossed for my madem friends!)

[la la]

4. daughter just called-

she's stuck on the 710- which is a terrible freeway to begin with---so who knows when she'll be home. this weather sucks for californians---we aren't set up for any of it---tornados, floods,fires,mudslides....

[tabatha]

6. A very bad time to be stuck. She has my sympathy.

[XemaSab]

5. It's because LA made a pact with Satan

[Robb]

7. Or supported HCR. nt