Mother’s Day Tornado Watch

Until 3 PM, much of the WSAZ viewing area is under a tornado watch with Severe Thunderstorm Warnings coming fast and furiously this morning. Now things have settled down somewhat this early Mother's Day afternoon..

As of 1PM, it appears the risk of tornadoes has lessened . At 1 PM, the main storm line is along I-79 north and east of Charleston and is racing off into the mountains. While new showers and storms will form this afternoon, the chance they will produce tornadoes is less. More likely some pea size hail showers will accompany storms this afternoon with winds gusty in many places.

Overnight a spring concoction of moist semi-tropical air (it is warm and humid this Sunday morn for those joggers I just passed at Ritter Park) and howling and turning winds up in the heavens (winds are blowing at 125 miles per hour at the 20,000 foot level and making for a bumpy ride on US Airways commuter flights) have conspired to spawn a line of strong to severe thunderstorms.

We are hearing about possible tornado touchdowns in Carter and Floyd Counties where wind damage has knocked down trees and power lines.