The tornado also inflicted significant damage to the Los Angeles Convention Center, which required $3 million in repairs.

The front produced only a weak contrast in air pressure, temperature, and wind, and the broader cyclone was not unusual for the region.

Accordingly, the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast heavy rain showers for the area on March 1 but issued no tornado watch.

The tornado moved at an average speed of 10 mph (16 km/h) on a south-southwest to north-northeast trajectory extending from 51st Street to Olympic Boulevard just east of the Harbor Freeway.

[3][1] Coincidentally, Bernard Ferrier, an instructor at USC, was concurrently teaching a class on meteorological observations on the roof of the eight-story Vivian Hall about 0.62 mi (1 km) away from the tornado.

[6]: 3 The tornado destroyed around 50 homes and 7 businesses along a path 3.5 mi (5.6 km) long, with most of the damage occurring in South Central Los Angeles.

Downed power and telephone poles along with debris from buildings led to the closure of some roads and prompted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to restrict travel on some parts of the Harbor Freeway.

The damage wrought by the tornado also caused 165 natural gas outages affecting residential and commercial areas.

[3] At around 7 p.m. PST on March 1, an LAPD helicopter dispatched to assist emergency efforts crashed after colliding with a power line on takeoff, killing one person and seriously injuring two others.

[6]: 1  The American Red Cross also assisted in the relief effort, establishing a primary shelter for tornado victims at Manual Arts High School that operated from March 1–6; the shelter provided aid to 188 victims and the Red Cross spent $17,024 on relief supplies.

[3] Aside from the F2-rated tornado, widespread beach erosion and some flooding resulted from the strong winds and heavy rainfall produced between February 28–March 3 by the low-pressure system over the eastern Pacific.

[6]: 13  Flooding in Ventura County inflicted around $1 million in damage to businesses and homes on February 28, prompting evacuations.

That tornado caused minor damage, but injured the driver of a car that was lifted 15 ft (4.6 m) into the air and carried across a highway.