Winds of up to 75 mph toppled trees and power lines, leaving residents in San Francisco and California without power after shocking eyewitness footage showed glass falling from apartments
“Hurricane-force winds” sweep through San Francisco
A bomb cyclone has killed one person and plunged over 230,000 residents into darkness after hurricane-force winds battered San Francisco Tuesday night.
The torrential rains hit the west coast after winds of up to 120 km/h caused trees to fall and debris to be blown across the US’s Portolla Valley.
Eyewitness video shows glass falling from high-rise buildings as the storm hit San Francisco Tuesday afternoon.
No injuries were reported in the incident, but evacuation orders were issued after two people were injured by a falling tree.
A similar incident in San Mateo County resulted in the tragic death of one person.
California Highway Patrol Officer David LaRock said more than 230,000 residents were without power after debris and power lines went out.
Vehicles trapped after heavy rain in California (
He told Weather.com, “Due to the strong wind, a large tree fell on the vehicle as it was heading east. When rescuers arrived, they had to remove several large branches to get to the vehicle.”
Eyewitnesses, including meteorologist Drew Tuma, said winds dropped from “60 miles an hour to absolute calm” as he entered the storm.
The winds caused flights to be grounded at San Francisco International Airport and delayed over 300 flights.
After the flood, people had to leave their cars behind(
20 flights were canceled as Oakland and San Jose Mineta International Airports reported delays as passengers took to social media to vent their frustration.
Meanwhile, an overflowing levee in San Francisco triggered a section and drifted away while several boats were stranded.
Motorists across California were stranded after power lines struck Woodside, and many residents were forced to seek shelter after several power cables fell.
Trees and power lines have fallen, leaving thousands of residents without power (
Ferry services were also suspended on Tuesday afternoon after winds caused “oceanic waves” in the Bay Area.
And in San Joaquin County, just two hours from San Francisco, the bomb cyclone flooded streets with deep water as the San Francisco Fire Department urged residents to take precautions.
Spokesman Jonathan Baxter said, “Right now there’s a lot of road closures going on all over San Francisco simply because of downed power lines, downed trees and flooded areas.”
Motorways were closed due to the flooding(
“‘Be aware of the severe storm moving over San Francisco. If you don’t need to travel, consider other options. If you’re on the road, expect delays during your journey.”
With winds of up to 75 mph expected Wednesday, a winter storm warning has been issued for the Lake Tahoe area, with disruptions expected through the end of the week.
