Charleston, WV (April 2, 2024) – Powerful thunderstorms packing damaging winds, hail, and the potential for tornadoes tore through the Ohio Valley on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

More than a dozen homes sustained damage in a single West Virginia community, and over 100,000 residents across the state were plunged into darkness as power lines were downed. Fayette County Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin Walker confirmed the damages and reported non-life threatening injuries.

The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center had warned of the severe weather threat earlier in the day, highlighting the possibility of “supercell” thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes alongside large hail and damaging winds.

A first wave of storms rolled through the region in the morning, impacting areas in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and even reaching Wisconsin. By Tuesday night, over 250,000 customers were reported without power, with West Virginia bearing the brunt of the outages.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but local authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant and report any downed power lines or injuries. Officials are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.