A weak tornado briefly touched down in Pico Rivera early Thursday morning, March 13, ripping out trees and downing power lines amid a strong storm, authorities said.
The tornado was classified as an EF-0, the lowest rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, said Devin Black, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
Wind speeds reached 85 mph, Black said, with the Weather Service reporting exterior damage to homes and cars and snapped trees.
Storm brings downed wires, debris flows — and even a weak tornado
The downed power lines were reported near Holbrook Street and Passons Boulevard, said Jonathan Torres, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which responded.
The tornado struck before 4 a.m. just west of the 605 Freeway and Whittier Boulevard, according to the NWS. Its mile-long path was 80 yards wide.
Jose Marilla, who lives in the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive, said he and his wife were awakened about 3 a.m. by the sound of wind and debris hitting a window.
They looked out and saw a large pine tree, which they described as five stories tall, coming down.
- A tree in Pico Rivera was uprooted after a weak tornado briefly touched down in the area of Holbrook Street and Passons Boulevard during a strong storm Thursday morning, March 13. (Courtesy of Capt. Joe Hernandez, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
Crews work to remove a large pine tree from the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Crews work to remove a large pine tree from the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Crews work to remove a large pine tree from the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Crews work to remove a large pine tree from the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jose Marilla cleans up his yard after a large pine tree fell and damage his home and vehicles in the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Wind damage to the front of a home in the 9400 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
This van was destroyed when a large pine tree fell in the 9500 block of Glencannon Drive in Pico Rivera on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Officials say that a tornado with winds at 85mph did touch down at around 3am in the area. Large trees fell and damaged structures and vehicles in the area. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“Me and my wife and my kids … saw the whole thing,” Marilla said. “It was coming down.”
Steve Carmona, Pico Rivera’s city manager, went out into the neighborhood and saw water pipes damaged along Glencannon Drive and Pico Vista Road. The city’s Public Works Department was assessing the damage. The city was also checking if any trees were damaged to the point they need to be removed.
Photos posted by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office showed multiple uprooted trees, at least one landing on an SUV parked on the street.
No injuries had been reported.
Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 9:06 AM PDT
