Alert archive / California / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 2, NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

December 25, 2025San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, California

NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued this tornado warning at Dec 25, 2025, 5:50 PM PST for San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, California. It was in force for 25 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Dec 25, 2025, 5:50 PM PST (01:50 UTC)
Expired
Dec 25, 2025, 6:15 PM PST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties San Mateo County, CA, Santa Cruz County, CA

The radar

The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:50 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 60 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Oakland, CA at 00:00Z on 2025-12-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 86 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Oakland, CA at 00:00Z on 2025-12-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 250 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
86 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
975 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
77 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
250 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
429 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

354 
WFUS56 KMTR 260150
TORMTR
CAC081-087-260215-
/O.NEW.KMTR.TO.W.0002.251226T0150Z-251226T0215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
550 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern San Mateo County in northern California...
  Northwestern Santa Cruz County in northern California...

* Until 615 PM PST.

* At 550 PM PST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 14 miles west of Boulder Creek, or 20 miles southwest
  of Palo Alto, moving northeast at 60 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
           to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
           likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of Southeastern San Mateo and Northwestern Santa
  Cruz Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3713 12234 3714 12234 3715 12236 3717 12237
      3718 12239 3720 12241 3724 12242 3727 12241
      3725 12240 3730 12241 3736 12240 3727 12215
      3725 12212 3711 12230 3712 12231 3711 12234
TIME...MOT...LOC 0149Z 205DEG 53KT 3715 12238

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN

$$

BKM
2 follow-up statements
186 
WWUS56 KMTR 260200
SVSMTR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
600 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025

CAC087-260210-
/O.CAN.KMTR.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-251226T0215Z/
Santa Cruz CA-
600 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY...

The Tornado threat has moved away form Santa Cruz Co. The threat
remains for San Mateo Co

&&

LAT...LON 3727 12241 3726 12241 3725 12240 3729 12241
      3736 12240 3729 12222 3718 12234 3720 12241
      3721 12240 3721 12241 3723 12241 3723 12242
      3724 12242
TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 205DEG 53KT 3717 12237

$$


CAC081-260215-
/O.CON.KMTR.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-251226T0215Z/
San Mateo CA-
600 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM PST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SAN MATEO COUNTY...

At 600 PM PST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 10 miles south of Woodside, or 12 miles southwest of Palo
Alto, moving northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
         to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of South Central San Mateo County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

Report severe weather to your nearest law enforcement agency or the
National Weather Service office in San Francisco CA.

&&

LAT...LON 3727 12241 3726 12241 3725 12240 3729 12241
      3736 12240 3729 12222 3718 12234 3720 12241
      3721 12240 3721 12241 3723 12241 3723 12242
      3724 12242
TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 205DEG 53KT 3717 12237

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN

$$

BKM
674 
WWUS56 KMTR 260210
SVSMTR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
610 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025

CAC081-260220-
/O.EXP.KMTR.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-251226T0215Z/
San Mateo CA-
610 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025

...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 615 PM PST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL SAN
MATEO COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.

&&

LAT...LON 3727 12241 3726 12241 3725 12240 3729 12241
      3736 12240 3729 12222 3718 12234 3720 12241
      3721 12240 3721 12241 3723 12241 3723 12242
      3724 12242
TIME...MOT...LOC 0200Z 205DEG 53KT 3730 12229

$$

BKM

The office that day

Everything else NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 25, 4:08 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR37 min
Dec 25, 4:09 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR20 min
Dec 25, 4:17 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRSan Mateo28 min
Dec 25, 4:19 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR26 min
Dec 25, 4:25 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR35 min
Dec 25, 4:31 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR29 min
Dec 25, 4:45 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRSan Mateo15 min
Dec 25, 4:59 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR31 min
Dec 25, 5:01 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR29 min
Dec 25, 5:08 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR20 min
Dec 25, 5:26 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR34 min
Dec 25, 5:27 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR16 min
Dec 25, 5:30 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR30 min
Dec 25, 5:35 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR38 min
Dec 25, 5:37 PM PSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMTRMarin, City and County of San Francisco23 min
Dec 25, 5:46 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRSan Mateo29 min
Dec 25, 6:05 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR25 min
Dec 25, 6:11 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR34 min
Dec 25, 6:12 PM PSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMTRMonterey33 min
Dec 25, 6:13 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRSan Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz2 hr
Dec 25, 6:18 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRSan Mateo27 min
Dec 25, 6:21 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRCity and County of San Francisco54 min
Dec 25, 6:35 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRMonterey, Santa Cruz3 hr
Dec 25, 6:35 PM PSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMTRSan Mateo, Santa Clara8 min
Dec 25, 6:44 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRSanta Clara2 hr
Dec 25, 6:54 PM PSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMTRMonterey36 min
Dec 25, 6:58 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR10 min
Dec 25, 7:07 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRMonterey53 min
Dec 25, 7:11 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR49 min
Dec 25, 7:13 PM PSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMTRMonterey19 min
Dec 25, 7:26 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRMonterey2 hr
Dec 25, 7:35 PM PSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMTRMonterey25 min
Dec 25, 7:57 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRMonterey33 min
Dec 26, 12:41 AM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRSanta Clara, Santa Cruz4 hr
Dec 26, 3:08 AM PSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMTR48 hr
Dec 26, 1:30 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRSanta Cruz30 min
Dec 26, 1:48 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR27 min
Dec 26, 2:19 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR26 min
Dec 26, 2:27 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRNapa, Sonoma3 hr
Dec 26, 2:30 PM PSTSpecial Weather StatementMTRMarin30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in California, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.