Here’s the latest on the Fresno County tornado situation.
What happened: The National Weather Service confirmed tornado activity in California’s Central Valley, with Fresno County two separate tornadoes confirmed and a third in Merced County as a spring storm moved through. The first Fresno County tornado touched down near Biola around 2:10 p.m. and was rated EF0, with winds near 70 mph; a second Fresno County tornado occurred later near Clovis with higher intensity, and damage assessments noted trees snapped and uprooted consistent with EF1 damage. These events were part of multiple severe storm warnings issued for the region on April 21, 2026.[4][5]
Impacts and safety: Warnings cautioned that flying debris would be dangerous for anyone not sheltering, and mobile homes were particularly at risk during the storms. Clovis Unified and other districts issued shelter-in-place orders during the warnings, though most advisories were lifted once warnings expired later that afternoon.[3][4]
Aftermath and context: Reports indicate no injuries across Fresno and Merced counties from these tornadoes, though property damage occurred from winds and debris; weather services conducted field surveys to confirm EF ratings and assess damage. The broader system also brought damaging winds and localized power/utility impacts in nearby areas.[5][4]
Where to check live updates: Local TV stations (e.g., ABC30, KFSN) and national outlets continued coverage with updates on confirmed tornado occurrences, safety notices, and damage assessments; you can also review the National Weather Service Hanford office updates for exact storm-track details and EF ratings.[2][4]
If you want, I can pull a concise, up-to-date summary with exact times and EF ratings from the latest NWS reports and deliver a brief safety checklist for homes in tornado-prone areas.
The National Weather Service has confirmed reports of multiple tornadoes that touched down in California's Central Valley on Tuesday, as a powerful spring storm passed through the region.
www.cbsnews.comThe National Weather Service has confirmed reports of multiple tornadoes that touched down in California's Central Valley on Tuesday, as a powerful spring storm passed through the region.
www.cbsnews.comA confirmed tornado was spotted near Fresno, California.
www.ktvu.comThe National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touched down in California's Central Valley on Tuesday.
ground.newsA confirmed tornado was spotted near Fresno, California.
www.foxla.comFRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The National Weather Service has issued two separate severe thunderstorm warnings unt...
www.kmjnow.comComments from the National Weather Service on their local storm report indicate that two tornadoes touched down in the Central Valley on Tuesday afternoon.
abc30.com"Damage assessment team reported snapped and uprooted trees consistent with EF1 damage from a tornado around 5:24 PM PDT," the NWS said.
patch.comA confirmed tornado touched down near Fresno, California, according to the National Weather Service.
www.foxla.com