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National Weather Service confirms tornado in Roanoke

The National Weather Service Damage Survey Team has concluded that an EF0 tornado with speeds of approximately 70 to 80 MPH touched down at 7:27 p.m. near the intersection of Welch Road and Bluefield Blvd, near Fishburn Park.  

According to the National Weather Service, "a narrow and very sporadic swath of tornado damage was then observed on a path toward the Southeast, ending on Robin Hood Road, about a mile and a half away from the initial touchdown point."

No injuries were reported. 

The tornado only lasted three minutes, but still enough time to damage 10 homes.  Sixty properties saw heavy tree damage.  A handful of cars were also crushed.

"We had a power line that was knocked down, a cable line that collapsed, as you can see a lot of limbs fell in the yard and the driveway.  Luckily, our van wasn't in there.  It would have been crushed like a lot of cars around here," Jon Polk.

Polk was at the gym when the storm flexed its muscles.  His house off Crystal Spring Avenue is fine, but the yard is cluttered.

Next door, a shattered window shows the storm's strength.  Several blocks over, near Jefferson Street, the damage attracted neighbors and crews trying to return power and normalcy.

Russ Ellis was hosting a party when the unlikely guest came knocking.

"It was almost like something out of 'The Wizard of Oz.'  It was just like this mist that came thru.  And the house began to shudder a little bit, and just a lot of rain," said Russ Ellis.   

The tornado ripped Ellis' mighty trees from the ground.  But everyone admits it could have been worse.

"I think we're pretty lucky.  I think we're all pretty lucky cause it doesn't seem like there's that much damage," said Polk. 

The city was inundated with calls Tuesday night.  An extra 911 operator was called in to handle the overload.