Severe Winds Leave Thousands Without Power in West Virginia

Appalachian Power Company and Mon Power are currently reporting significant power outages affecting nearly 14,000 customers across West Virginia. The disruptions were triggered by heavy rain and strong wind gusts that swept through the region on Wednesday afternoon.

The most impacted areas include the state’s largest cities, Charleston and Huntington, where 6,700 and 3,100 customers, respectively, are experiencing power outages. In addition, Wheeling has reported that 1,800 customers are without power.

Consistent winds ranging from 35 to 45 miles per hour were powerful enough to damage power lines and cause trees to fall, contributing to the outages. The adverse weather conditions have hampered restoration efforts, with Appalachian Power (AEP) line workers unable to safely commence repairs if wind speeds exceed 35 miles per hour.

AEP has stated that crews and contractors will work through the night to restore service. The company provided estimated restoration times for 90% of its affected customers: Noon on Thursday, November 21, for Huntington, Point Pleasant, Ripley, and Wayne areas; 4 p.m. for Hamlin, Milton, and Wheeling; and 11 p.m. for Beckley, Charleston, Clendenin, Elkview, Glasgow, Hico, Logan, Madison, Pineville, Walgrove, and Williamson.

In a separate incident in Botetourt County, Virginia, high winds caused a tree to fall on Etzler Road, narrowly missing a car carrying a mother and her son. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although the vehicle sustained minor damage. Crews promptly cleared the road to ensure the safety of travelers.

Duncan Weigand, a digital content producer for WSLS 10, is actively monitoring the developments and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.