NWS Checks Possible Tornado Report Near San Clemente

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The National Weather Service is examining whether a tornado damaged a tree at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course in Orange County. Forecasters received the report around noon Thursday, October 22, and sent a survey team, though the timing of the reported damage remains unclear. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center had said isolated severe gusts and perhaps a tornado were possible along the Central and Southern California coast. The NWS tracked a storm about 11 miles south of San Clemente moving northeast at 30 mph, with gusts estimated at 50 to 55 mph.  Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

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00:00A tornado may have touched down on a Southern California golf course,

00:03but a powerful thunderstorm gust could explain what happened at San Clemente's course.

00:08The National Weather Service sent a team to investigate the possible touchdown.

00:13Forecasters received the initial report around noon Thursday. The exact timing of the possible

00:18touchdown remains unclear. The Storm Prediction Center had forecast possible coastal tornadoes

00:24for Wednesday, the day before. That afternoon, Weather Service forecasters tracked a thunderstorm

00:3011 miles south of San Clemente. The storm was moving northeast at 30 miles per hour.

00:36Forecasters said its gusts could reach from 50 to 55 miles per hour. A strong low-pressure system

00:42combined with ocean moisture to fuel the unusual weather. NBC Los Angeles reports California

00:48averages about a dozen tornadoes annually, with southern tornadoes uncommon. Whether this was

00:53a tornado remains unconfirmed pending the Weather Service investigation. Disclosure. This video

00:59contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

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