Looking Back at the Sequoia National Park Tornado (credit: San Francisco State University)

DISCUSSION: As we turn the clocks back to July 7th, 2004, we find ourselves at a very history day in California state weather history.  On this date back in July of 2004, a tornado occurred in the Rockwell Pass area of Sequoia National Park, California. Since the elevation of the tornado’s ground circulation was approximately 3705 m (12,156 ft) MSL, this is the highest-elevation tornado documented in the United States.  Although there were a complicated series of events which had to unfold just right in order for a tornado to occur at such a high altitude, it is still impressive nonetheless to observe such a rare atmospheric phenomena in this part of the United States.  Also note how by looking at the image attached above, you can also identify how the base of this particular thunderstorm was clearly rotating based on the evident twisting edges of the cloud-base pivoting around the parent funnel descending to the ground.  To learn more about this particular tornadic thunderstorm, click on the following link.

To learn more about other past historic weather events occurring around the world, be sure to click here!

©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz