WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Severe thunderstorms continued moving across portions of West Virginia Tuesday evening, prompting warnings for numerous counties as storms capable of producing damaging winds race through the state.
The National Weather Service in Charleston issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 7:15 p.m. Tuesday for McDowell, Mingo, Lincoln, Raleigh, Wyoming, Logan, Boone and portions of Kanawha, Wayne and Fayette counties.
At 6:14 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Alum Creek to Hode and were moving southeast at approximately 60 mph.
The storms were capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 mph, with the National Weather Service warning of possible damage to roofs, siding and trees.
Communities potentially impacted include Beckley, Williamson, Madison, Welch, Logan, Pineville, Oak Hill, Mullens, Mount Hope, Mabscott, Oceana, Sophia, Chapmanville and Gary.
The warning also includes portions of the West Virginia Turnpike, Interstate 64, U.S. Route 119 and U.S. Route 19.
Earlier warnings were issued for portions of Cabell, Putnam, Lincoln, Logan and Kanawha counties as another round of storms moved through western and central West Virginia. Those warnings were allowed to expire at 6:30 p.m. as the storms moved out of the warned areas.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday for portions of central, southern and western West Virginia.
Residents in the path of severe storms are urged to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and remain alert as the storms continue moving through the region.
