FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Two tornadoes touched down in the San Joaquin Valley on Wednesday, April 21, prompting weather alerts across the region.
As storms moved through the Valley, neighbors experienced hail, lightning and witnessed fast-moving clouds.
Two tornadoes touched down in the San Joaquin Valley on Wednesday, April 21, prompting weather alerts across the region (FOX26).
Jason Mendez, public affairs representative for Westlands Water District, said people in his office raced outside to try and spot a tornado.
“Everybody’s phone was just going off with ‘tornado alert, tornado alert,'” Mendez said. “Naturally, we all came out of our office and started looking up,”
Videos shared by Jason Mendez showed the early formation of a tornado, including a rotating funnel (VIDEO: JASON MENDEZ).
Videos shared by Mendez showed the early formation of a tornado, including a rotating funnel.
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Mendez said seeing a tornado in California was unsettling at first.
“It’s a little unnerving at first for a Californian but it was still pretty cool to see for the first time,” he said.
In response to National Weather Service alerts, Clovis Unified School District placed all schools in the district under a “shelter in place.”
A damage assessment team from the National Weather Service reported snapped and uprooted trees from the tornado that touched down east of Clovis (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE).
‘All schools in CUSD have been placed on Shelter in Place due to a region-wide tornado alert by the National Weather Service. Students will be held in classrooms until further notice, and schools won’t release students until further notice. Buses are delayed, and we will communicate with families,” CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The situation was unfamiliar and frustrating for some parents.
Alexander Clark, a parent, said he questioned if school’s going on lockdown was necessary and warranted.
“They said a tornado was coming but, you know, we have beautiful clear skies in this area,” Clark said. “I don’t understand why they’re keeping my daughter against her will.”
Mendez also said he was surprised by the shelter-in-place order, but understood the district’s caution.
“They were under a shelter in place, which was crazy, it’s not even near there but I figured out of precaution, that’s probably what they’re doing,” he said.
As the day went on, neighbors around the Valley continued posting their views of the sky.
Mendez said he used a drone to get a better look and was surprised by what he saw.
“Popped it up, started looking to the west, and there (the tornado) was,” he said. “I was like, ‘Whoa, this is real, this is legit.”
A damage assessment team reported snapped and uprooted trees from the tornado that touched down east of Clovis.
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