Tuesday, June 25th

National Weather Service confirms rare West Virginia tornado

Rachel Trout walks her dog Lilly past a house partly destroyed by a falling tree after a suspected tornado tore through Charleston, W.Va., Monday, June 24, 2019. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The National Weather Service says storm-related damage indicates that a rare tornado touched down in West Virginia.

The weather service tweeted that a tornado hit the Alum Creek area Monday night along U.S. Route 119 southwest of Charleston. A survey team is examining damage in other areas in Kanawha County, where large trees toppled onto homes and roads.

Forecasters are still determining the tornado's strength.

With its vast network of hills and mountains, West Virginia averages two tornadoes a year.

About 15,000 Appalachian Power customers remained without electricity Tuesday in West Virginia, down from nearly 21,000 Monday night. Charleston's Yeager Airport tweeted it was using backup generators. Workers at West Virginia's Capitol complex went home at midday when the power was turned off campuswide as part of repair and restoration efforts.

Dwight Ford hands over his daughter Jasmine, 8, to her mother, Laura Stallings, after the car they were driving in was struck by a falling pole that had itself been hit by a lightning bolt after a suspected tornado tore through Charleston, W.Va., Monday, June 24, 2019. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

Charlie Milton clears tree branches from Quarrier Street after a suspected tornado tore through Charleston, W.Va., Monday, June 24, 2019. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

People walk along Hickory Road after a suspected tornado tore through Charleston, W.Va., on Monday, June 24, 2019. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

Peyton King, left, and Vince Staples clear debris from Hickory Road after a suspected tornado tore through Charleston, W.Va., Monday, June 24, 2019. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

Jim Mattis gets something out of his truck after a suspected tornado tore through Charleston, W.Va., Monday, June 24, 2019. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

Fallen trees smother a damaged home, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Charleston, W.Va. The National Weather Service says storm-related damage indicates a rare tornado touched down in West Virginia. (Chad Hedrick/WSAZ-TV via AP)

In this Monday, June 24, 2019 photo, storm clouds form over the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. (Perry Bennett via AP)

In this Monday, June 24, 2019 photo, provided by WV Legislative Photography, storm clouds form over the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. (Perry Bennett /WV Legislative Photography via AP)