The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in Holden, Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon. 

The tornado was radar confirmed around 4:07 p.m. It appears as though it was only on the ground for a short period of time before lifting. "Radar confirmation" means that while it wasn't observed by the naked eye, there was enough evidence on radar to confirm the existence of a tornado. 

Forecasters also use something called the correlation coefficient, a method of radar that can detect when debris is tossed into the air from a tornado touchdown. 

A velocity scan on radar also showed the tightening of winds, which is what prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning in Worcester and Middlesex County until 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Previous warnings were issued in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. Those warnings have also since expired.

Holden storm damage

Residents were shocked to see the damage left behind after the tornado and severe storms swept through the area.

"I've been here 50 years, right in that house 50 years, and I've never seen anything like this," Paxton resident Dottie Reid said. "I looked in my backyard and I have all trees down in my backyard also."

"Very scary, the house kind of whistled," Barbara West of Paxton said. "I heard a crack and a boom."

Phyllis Lorrain's property in Holden is littered with branches. She said that as she fled to the basement of her home, she saw branches falling right in front of her window.

"You could hear thumping, a little bit. So, I think one of the branches kind slid off the roof over on this side," Lorrain said.

The women feel grateful that the damage was relatively minimal.

"Luckily, nobody's been hurt. That's the main thing," Lorrain said.

"I was very much hoping for the best, and I have to tell you I feel extremely blessed," Reid said.

Crews are working to clear up streets and restore power to those who lost it.