Introduction to the Unlikely Weather Event
The son of the restaurant owners whose business was hit by a tornado in Boyle Heights said his parents are in complete disbelief over the rare weather event.
Winds whipped through the Southland on Christmas Day as a winter storm dumped inches of rain over a three-day period. With the storm came a slew of weather alerts, including flood watches, caution for potential mudslides and even a tornado warning for the San Gabriel Valley.
It was Boyle Heights, however, that was hit with a twister.
El Nuevo Mariscos Tampico took some damage when the EF0 tornado touched down in the Los Angeles neighborhood. Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the moment debris scattered through the area due to the strong winds, forcing a sign to hit the restaurant’s front windows and break them.
“You don’t even know what to think,” said Ronald Arevalo, whose father and stepmother own the restaurant. “A tornado in LA? That’s such a rare occurrence. Not even rare, it’s just unbelievable. That’s something not heard of.”
Understanding Tornadoes in Southern California
Although Southern California isn’t typically associated with twisters, there have been some in recent years.
An EF0 tornado touched down in Pico Rivera earlier this year in March and in 2023, another tornado ripped through the roofs of several businesses in Montebello. When this twister occurred, Arevalo’s father was in the restaurant’s office and his stepmother was in the kitchen.
Roof tiles were scattered all across the front year of the home after strong winds swept through the area. Keenan Willard and Belen de Leon report for the NBC4 News at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025.
The Moment of the Tornado
“They heard a loud bang … and they came out startled as to what happened,” Arevalo said. “So when they saw the trash on the floor, they thought, ‘Who did this?’ You wouldn’t think a tornado happened and then little by little, they found out.”
Thankfully, no injuries were reported in connection with the tornado.
“When I saw that, I was so glad that they’re not injured,” Arevalo said. “Especially, too, since they had just opened up. No one was inside, so luckily, no one was sitting down. No one got injured.”
Conclusion
The tornado that hit Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, was an unexpected and rare weather event. The damage to El Nuevo Mariscos Tampico and the surrounding area serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of natural disasters. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the community is grateful for the lack of harm. As the area recovers from the storm, residents are left to ponder the unusual occurrence of a tornado in LA.
FAQs
Q: What type of tornado touched down in Boyle Heights?
A: An EF0 tornado touched down in the Los Angeles neighborhood.
Q: Were there any injuries reported in connection with the tornado?
A: No, thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Q: Is it common for tornadoes to occur in Southern California?
A: No, tornadoes are rare in Southern California, but there have been some instances in recent years.
Q: What was the extent of the damage to El Nuevo Mariscos Tampico?
A: The restaurant suffered damage to its front windows, which were broken by a sign that was forced by strong winds.
Q: What was the reaction of the restaurant owners to the tornado?
A: The owners, Ronald Arevalo’s father and stepmother, were in disbelief and initially thought someone had vandalized the restaurant before learning about the tornado.
