Rain causes street closings

A tornado is believed to have touched down in Sunset Beach, and parts of Pacific Coast Highway are closed for flooding due to heavy rains.

Rain has flooded out several areas of Huntington Beach, causing authorities to close the southbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway from Warner Avenue to Seapoint Avenue, said Lt. John Domingo of the Police Department. 12th Street and Crest Avenue and the 8400 block of Edinger Avenue have also experienced serious flooding, Domingo said.

“Obviously, the weather is creating a problem for everyone,” he said.

Authorities also believe a tornado damaged several boats in Huntington Harbour, but details are still unknown, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman John McDonald.

A unoccupied SUV vehicle also flipped over in Peter’s Landing Marina in Huntington Beach around 1:15 p.m., McDonald said. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is believed a funnel cloud is responsible, said Martha Werth, the Huntington Beach Fire Department’s spokeswoman. The accident is still under investigation, officials said.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings to several Orange and Los Angeles county cities, including Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.

— Britney Barnes