Tornado possible due to storms moving through SLO, Santa Barbara counties

A “brief, weak” tornado is possible as thunderstorms move into northeastern Santa Barbara County and southeastern San Luis Obispo County on Sunday evening, the National Weather Service said.

The agency detected a few severe thunderstorms between Lockwood Valley and Ventucopa just before 6 p.m. The storms were moving northwest at about 40 mph, and radar showed “some rotation” within the storm, suggesting a tornado is possible.

The storm is expected to affect northern Ventura County, southeastern SLO County and northeastern Santa Barbara County, including Highway 33, Highway 166 between Twitchell Dam and the Cuyama Valley and the Carrizo Plain.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for those areas until 6:45 p.m., the agency said. Officials predict 60-mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail, and say people should expect hail damage to vehicles and wind damage to roofs, siding and trees.

This story was originally published September 10, 2017 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Tornado possible due to storms moving through SLO, Santa Barbara counties."