NWS report: Winds in weekend storm reached 80 miles per hour in Smyth County

A report from the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg says a weekend storm that did considerable damage in Smyth County had winds that packed a bigger punch than a confirmed tornado in Tazewell, Tennessee.

Following an evaluation of radar and damaged areas, the agency said their investigation showed straight-line winds clocked between 75 and 80 miles per hour, resulting in trees being blown down onto homes and a few outbuildings and barns destroyed in Chilhowie.