The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado passed through Longview, Washington State, Thursday afternoon, sending debris flying, downing power lines, uprooting trees and causing street closures. 

The NWS in Portland storm damage survey team reported the damage was more than a mile long and 200 feet wide. Damage consisted of roof and automobile damage, downed or snapped trees and downed power poles. They estimated the tornado's winds to be between 86-110 mph. 

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Ian McNew of Manchester Brothers, an appliance and sporting goods store, told KATU-TV, "After it (the piece of roof) went through, it was just absolutely howling. It was deafening; it was loud. That's when we took cover...It ripped the back door, it's a security door, it ripped it right off its hinges." 

KGW-TV reported that an active funnel cloud was spotted near the Cowlitz Way Bridge. Emergency officials alerted people in the Longview and Kelso areas of southwestern Washington. 

According to Q13 Fox, the funnel cloud touched down around 1 p.m. PDT. KGW-TV reports that wind blew the roof off of Kessler Elementary School's gym and a nearby appliance store. 

KATU reports that schools in the affected area had all students and staff shelter in place. 

Authorities say the worst damage and debris occurred at an intersection in downtown Longview, but no injuries have been reported. 

Resident Andy Bernard told KGW-TV that his trampoline flew through his window and up through the roof of his home. 

"It decided to take flight right at me and I ducked and the trampoline went into the house and it sucked it back out and up and over the roof and the garage, and down three quarters of the block," Bernard said.

(MORE: Nor'easter Pounds New England: Thousands Without Power, Schools Closed in Massachusetts) 

"We've seen the footage and pictures available through different media outlets, and we can safely say there was a tornado. We will send up a team shortly to do a storm survey to determine how strong the tornado was," the National Weather Service in Portland said prior to sending a storm damage survey team. 

According to Dr. Greg Forbes, severe weather expert at The Weather Channel, three weak tornadoes have been reported in Cowlitz County since 1950, the most recent in 2004. 

The last time that the NWS Portland office issued a tornado warning was in 2010. Two weeks ago the Seattle office issued its first tornado warning since 1997. 

This is a developing story. Check back with The Weather Channel and weather.com for breaking information. 

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