Aiexpress – A strong thunderstorm that swept through Tehama County on Friday evening unexpectedly gave birth to a rare tornado near Paynes Creek, just a few miles from the Shasta County border. According to meteorologists, the twister was a remarkable event, and the National Weather Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding its formation.
Tornado Touchdown in the Wilderness
The tornado developed rapidly between 5:18 and 5:21 p.m. on Friday, triggering a tornado warning for both Tehama and Shasta counties by 5:22 p.m. As soon as the tornado was spotted, reports flooded in from weather “spotters” and webcams, which captured footage of the rare phenomenon, noted Johnnie Powell, a meteorologist with the Sacramento branch of the National Weather Service.
The tornado touched down in a remote area, about 8 miles northeast of Dairyville and 10 miles east of Cottonwood, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the unusual occurrence, the twister did not cause any reported injuries or damage to homes or businesses, as confirmed by the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Emergency Services as of 8:45 p.m.
A Rare Event for California
The tornado that struck Tehama County on Friday evening holds the distinction of being the first recorded tornado in California in 2025, and possibly the first in the entire United States for the year, Powell remarked. This tornado is also noteworthy for being the latest of at least 12 tornadoes observed in Tehama County over the past 76 years, according to weather experts.
How the Tornado Formed
Meteorologists explained that the tornado was spawned by a powerful thunderstorm that also brought heavy rain and hail to the northern Sacramento Valley. Tornadoes are created when different air currents within a thunderstorm converge and begin to spin, forming a rotating column of air. The violent winds and spinning air, often caused by strong atmospheric instability, lead to the formation of tornadoes.
As the thunderstorm dissipated late Friday evening, the Redding area was expected to remain mostly dry over the weekend and into the following week, with sunny skies expected to dominate the region.
While tornadoes are rare in California, this unusual event has captured the attention of meteorologists and residents alike, marking the first significant tornado event of the year for the state and possibly the country.
