A rare tornado warning was issued in San Francisco for the first time ever on Saturday, as thunderstorms swept through the region, causing widespread power outages and damaging trees. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the advisory just before 6:00 a.m. local time (14:00 GMT) for northern San Mateo County and parts of downtown San Francisco. According to the PowerOutage website, over 221,000 people across Northern and Central California experienced power outages.

The storm brought strong winds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h), prompting authorities to warn residents to "take shelter now." More than one million residents in San Francisco and its suburbs received mobile alerts urging them to seek safety. However, just a few minutes later, the NWS Bay Area announced that the warning had been lifted, and the storm had moved out of downtown San Francisco. Authorities are currently assessing the damage to determine if a tornado actually occurred.

This tornado alert came shortly after a tsunami warning was issued just a week earlier for northern California and southern Oregon, following a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the state's northern coast. No injuries were reported during that event, and the warning was later rescinded. Meanwhile, the city’s residents are now preparing for another potential threat, as a coastal flood advisory remains in effect until Monday.

The last tornado reported in San Francisco was in 2005, though it lacked a clear radar signature, and no warning was issued at the time. San Mateo County, which borders San Francisco, last received a tornado warning in 2011. As the region continues to experience extreme weather events, residents are advised to stay vigilant and follow updates from local authorities. The NWS Bay Area will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on any further weather alerts.