In a slew of hail and heavy rains, Tillamook County saw its first tornado touchdown in nearly 20 years early Friday morning. The rotating cell made landfall after forming off the coast, roaring its way onshore in dramatic fashion for onlookers who’ve likely never seen anything like it. Hours before high tide, the beach disappeared. Spiraling winds left businesses, like the local ice cream parlor, caved in and partially collapsed.
Homes lost their roofs, porches ended up totally flipped over by uprooted trees. Telephone poles snapped like twigs and lives wires lay strewn about the town’s debris-ridden streets. Oregon tornadoes aren’t unheard of, but they’re certainly rare. This is just the third reported tornado-producing storm in Tillamook County’s history, dating back to 1950, per National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) information. FULL REPORT
