Many West Virginians woke up Thursday with storm alerts blaring from their phones and sirens echoing through towns like Charleston. With tornado warnings issued and the National Weather Service on high alert, the day began with a sense of urgency across the state.
But by late afternoon, the picture became clearer—West Virginia was mostly spared from major damage.
Close Call Across the State
In Upshur County, where the worst of the storm passed through central West Virginia, officials were relieved that the impact was limited.
“We received a significant amount of thunder and lightning and some heavy downpours,” said Steve Wykoff, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director for the county. “But in terms of damage, we only had some downed trees and power outages. We’re pretty fortunate in that regard.”
Strong winds swept through counties like Wood, Ritchie, Tyler, Doddridge, Lewis, Upshur, and Webster, but there were no reports of major destruction.
Charleston Sees Scare, Not Destruction
In Kanawha County, the scene was similar. Tornado sirens sounded throughout the Kanawha Valley, prompting concern from residents.
“So far, we’re not seeing much damage,” said C.W. Sigman, Director of Emergency Management for Kanawha County. “We do have a bunch of power outages and trees down, but no reports of any homes damaged.”
Eerie Clouds but No Confirmed Tornadoes
Social media was abuzz with dramatic footage of a rotating cloud spotted in Fayette County, particularly near the Babcock area. But according to Jack Kincaid, Emergency Services Director, the storm passed without significant incident.
“We had reports of a weird cell that formed, but we haven’t had any reports of damage,” he noted.
Straight-Line Winds and Flood Concerns
According to Joe Curtis of the National Weather Service, there were no confirmed tornado touchdowns.
“We did have some tree damage, but that was a result of straight-line winds,” said Curtis during an interview on MetroNews Talkline.
The storm system left behind a trail of flood watches and warnings, especially in the southwestern counties. While small creeks and streams overflowed in spots, no homes were affected—at least so far.
More Weather to Come
Emergency officials are urging residents to stay alert, with more potentially severe weather expected to roll in Thursday night into Friday.
West Virginia may have dodged a bullet this time, but with spring storms still rolling through, preparedness remains key.
