Fresno tornado warning today: Funnel cloud seen in Clovis, tornado touchdown reported in California storm chaos

A tornado warning was issued for Fresno, California on Tuesday afternoon after dangerous storm activity was seen in the region, as per National Weather Service. Storm chasers reported a possible tornado touching the ground in Clovis, which is located just north of Fresno in Fresno County.

A local ABC News affiliate later confirmed that a tornado touchdown had taken place in the area. The warning started after people saw a large funnel cloud or rotating storm system forming near Fresno. A video of the funnel cloud near Clovis was recorded by a local resident and later shared by ABC 30 Fresno.

Fresno tornado warning

The tornado was reported near Shaw Avenue and Highway 99, according to local reports, as per Hindustan Times. A resident first reported a funnel cloud touching down near Biola, about nine miles west of Fresno, at 2:12 p.m. to emergency officials. The tornado was moving northeast at around 15 miles per hour, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist, as noted by New York Times.

Fresno weather tornado

The Weather Service issued a tornado warning soon after, telling people to watch for flying debris and stay alert. Officials said the tornado stayed on the ground for more than 10 minutes during the event. Tornadoes are rare in California, but 487 have been recorded since 1950, according to weather data, as per Golden Gate Weather Services via New York Times,

The last major tornado near Fresno happened in January 2019 in Clovis and was rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Meteorologists said the tornado formed when moist air and warming conditions combined as a storm moved across northern California.

FAQs

Q1. Was there a tornado warning in Fresno today?

Yes, a tornado warning was issued in Fresno after a possible tornado and funnel cloud were seen near Clovis.

Q2. Did a tornado actually hit Fresno or nearby areas?

Yes, reports confirmed a tornado touchdown near Clovis and Biola in Fresno County with storm damage risk.