By Caity Coyne Staff writer, The Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A severe thunderstorm led to “a couple” of reported tornado touchdowns Monday evening in Charleston and South Charleston, according to a Kanawha Metro 911 dispatcher.
The tornado warning, issued for a storm moving north from the Alum Creek area, was posted for Charleston and South Charleston at about 6:45 p.m. and was in effect until 7:15 p.m.
In that time, and in the 30 minutes after, emergency dispatchers received dozens of reports of downed trees and power poles throughout Charleston. According to Appalachian Power’s outage map, there were widespread power outages throughout Kanawha County, with thousands reported in Charleston alone around 8 p.m. The outage map showed 20,452 customers without power in Kanawha County a little after 8:30. …
