Tornado Warning for Imperial County, CA

Issued by The National Weather Service
Phoenix, AZ
3:14 pm PST, Thu., Jan. 21, 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR… NORTHEASTERN IMPERIAL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA… SOUTHEASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA… SOUTHWESTERN LA PAZ COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ARIZONA…

* UNTIL 400 PM PST/500 PM MST/

* AT 306 PM PST… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO AS WELL AS DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. METEOROLOGISTS ALSO DETECTED AT LEAST TWO AREAS WHERE SHORT LIVED TORNADOES COULD DEVELOP… ONE AT ABOUT 5 MILES WEST OF BLYTHE AIRPORT AND A SECOND MAINLY OVER OPEN COUNTY… OVER FAR EXTREME NORTHEAST IMPERIAL COUNTY.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CIBOLA… NICHOLLS WARM SPRINGS… RIPLEY AND BLYTHE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO… THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING INCH SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT… OR SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES… EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE… LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM PST THURSDAY EVENING/1000 PM MST THURSDAY EVENING/ FOR SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.