Tornado Blamed for Blowing Roof off Vermont Building

The National Weather Service says it was a tornado that ripped the roof off a central Vermont apartment building.

Thunderstorms swept through the area Saturday afternoon, knocking over a metal barn and tearing the roof off the two-story apartment building in the village of Washington, about 15 miles southwest of Montpelier. Trees were snapped and uprooted. There were no reports of injuries.

The weather service says the tornado first caused damage west of Washington and then traveled for half a mile east-southeast through the village before dissipating. It says the degree of damage is consistent with rotating tornado winds ranging from 90 to 100 mph.

Several residents reported seeing a funnel cloud.

The weather service says tornadoes are reported in Vermont about once every two years.