Tornado Touches Down in Oregon's Willamette Valley

There were no serious injuries from what was probably an F-1 storm; officials say it might not be over.

Photo by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(AUMSVILLE, Ore.) - Aumsville residents are shaken and their town is partly destroyed. A tornado touched down here and may continue to cause problems in western Oregon today.

Damage to buildings in Aumsville is extensive. Residents had reported seeing a 'swirling' pattern from what experts say was indeed a tornado. It was a small event compared to what takes place in the Midwest.

At this point the Aumsville Fire department is securing the damaged areas; buildings that received damage include a plumbing supply company, a fire training tower, and the Aumsville Market; and a pole barn that was completely demolished.

City Hall, the police station and homes between Main Street and Del Mar were damaged in Aumsville.

One witness told Portland's KATU News that one building took particularly heavy damage; "The roof and the front entrance where customers used to walk in; they are just walls now."

Oregon State Troopers at this point, are responding to several traffic crashes on I-5, as a warning has been issued for hail.

Veteran Portland weather anchor Dave Silesky, says the potential is right for many of these strong thunderstorms to pop up this afternoon.

"Upper level winds are out of the south, this means sheering action and more potential for these storms to develop."

Silesky says the average life of a thunderstorm is 15 to 45 minutes.