National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

A cold front pressing east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms my bring damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes while excessive rainfall may lead to areas of flooding. Heat will build across the western U.S. with heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories issued. Read More >

January 23rd Storm in Contra Costa County



A very strong thunderstorm went through a portion of Contra Costa County near Brentwood and Discovery Bay on Saturday, January 23rd. The following pictures were taken by Diane Rybicki of the Contra Costa Water District and are used here with her permission and the permission of the Contra Costa Water District.

  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/Hail Storm 009.jpg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/Hail Storm 007.jpg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/Hail Storm 006.jpg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/Hail Storm 004.jpg

A low topped super cell produced an EF0 tornado near Brentwood. The tornado crossed power lines and destroyed a utility pole. An eyewitness described the tornado as high winds from swirling white cloud. The pole was twisted to the ground and the top one-third of the 40-foot pole was splintered. Fifty-five customers lost power at 12:54 p.m. PST.

  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/brentwood.jpeg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/brentwood2.jpeg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/brentwood3.jpeg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/brentwood4.jpeg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/brentwood6.jpeg
  • /images/mtr/Storm Summary/TornadoHail_1_23_2010/brentwood9.jpeg

Radar Loop of the Low Topped Cell.  Tornado location noted on map