SEVERE WEATHER Severe Storms Ripping Through The Area
Reported by: Kallie Cart
Web Producer: Kallie Cart
Reported: Feb. 29, 2012 12:00 PM EST
Updated: Feb. 29, 2012 4:50 PM EST
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, West Virginia
Severe thunderstorms are racing across the area this afternoon and have already resulted in structural damage in some locations.
In Kentucky, the hardest hit area appears to be Morgan County, where a Tornado Warning was issued around 2:00 PM after a funnel cloud was sighted. There was no word on whether the cloud touched down, in which case it would be classified offically as a tornado. However, damage to parts of the County appears to be significant, especially in the town of Malone where a roof was blown off a home and a church was demolished. In the town of Ezel, a barn was suffered major damage and large limbs took down the gutter of a house. Hail the size of hens eggs was reported around West Liberty. We have a crew on the way to Morgan County and will provide further updates.
Over in Johnson and Lawrence County, large hail was also reported. Hail larger than nickels fell near Paintsville and 1.5" -2" hail was measured in Charley and Gallup in Lawrence County. In Magoffin County over 1,400 customers are without power according to AEP.
The impact is being felt in West Virginia and Ohio as well. Trees and powerlines are down in the Ansted area of Fayette County. We've received reports of trees down in Craigsville in Nicholas County as well. Up in Meigs and Athens Counties several highways were reported flooded due to heavy rainfall.
The entire WCHS-WVAH Viewing area is under a Tornado Watch until 9 PM, which means conditions are favorable for a tornado to form. High winds, hail and heavy rain are also threats. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Southeast Kentucky and also Northeast West Virginia, and a Flash Flood Warning is in effect for northern Braxton, southern Calhoun and all of Lewis County.
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Kallie Cart
