NWS determines damaged power lines weren’t caused by tornado

The National Weather Service in Phoenix was investigating a strong thunderstorm that hit the Coachella Valley early Thursday morning as a possible EF-0 to EF-1 tornado, but officials have determined it wasn’t a tornado.

KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 spoke to the Working Chief Meteorologist for the NWS in Phoenix, and he said the storm damage that occurred around 1:45 a.m. was caused by straight-line winds.

Twelve power poles were uprooted along Highway 86 near Salton City due to the heavy wind conditions.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 Photojournalist Chris Tarpening was capturing video of the lightning show, and images appeared to show a funnel cloud which many believed was a tornado. In fact, this was an intense rain shaft that appeared to look like a funnel cloud, according to the NWS.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 interviewed the WCM for NWS in Phoenix, and we’ll have more details regarding the investigation and storm damage Friday night.