The NationalWeatherService rated the Montebello twister as EF1, with winds of 110 mph.
That made it the strongest tornado recorded in the area since an F2 caused major damage in March 1983.
It traveled north toward USC before disappearing into the clouds near the Convention Center.
See the NCEIs analysishere.
It also forced the closure of the Venice Pier, which would not reopen for 15 years.
California has been clobbered by severe storms all winter long.
The first day of spring brought yet another wild storm that triggered theMontebello tornado.
