EUGENE, Ore. — The National Weather Service in Portland has assessed a small tornado that damaged four vehicles in Eugene as one that probably packed winds of 65 to 85 miles per hour.
The Oregonian reports that meteorologist Liana Ramirez says Tuesday’s twister has been rated conservatively as an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. For that rating, she says a tornado must have a sustained, 3-second-long gust of 65 to 85 mph.
The tornado touched down late Tuesday afternoon in a parking lot at the Lane Community College main campus.
College spokeswoman Joan Aschim says it damaged four cars but no one was hurt. One vehicle, with two people inside, was lifted briefly into the air and then dropped back to earth.
The Weather Service did not send a crew to Eugene to assess the damage but relied on witness accounts and photographs of damage.
In December 2010, an EF-2 tornado caused widespread damage to the town of Aumsville, east of Salem.
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