9 a.m. - Area spared worst of storms

Approximately 80 customers in Jefferson and Harrison counties remained without electrical power early today, but area residents appeared to have been spared the worst of the weather late Wednesday.

Carmen Prati-Miller of American Electric Power said today some customers were without power in Toronto, Smithfield, Dillonvale and Cadiz.

"We expect to have power restored to all of our customers by 1 p.m. today. At the height of the storms Wednesday we saw 350 customers in Jefferson and Harrison counties, but our crews have been working throughout the night to restore power to our customers," said Prati-Miller.

"Approximately 4,000 customers in our Ohio Valley district were without power at one point, but that number has been reduced to 2,000 customers today," Prati-Miller added.

Allegheny Power reported one customer without power early today in Wellsburg and predicted power would be restored by 10 a.m.

Local residents saw lightning, heard strong thunder and received some rain Wednesday. But according to Joe Palko, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon Township, Pa., the brunt of the storm passed south of the area.

"There was a line of heavy storms to the east of Pittsburgh and then another line moved into Eastern Ohio later Wednesday. There were tornado warnings issued for Belmont and the southeastern areas of Harrison county during the evening, but we had no confirmed reports of actual tornadoes," said Palko.

"There was some flooding from the heavy rains and some power lines down and damaged trees, but we believe that was caused by the winds and hail that hit the area. We had reports of three-quarter-inch hail in Wheeling along with the heavy rain," cited Palko.

"Bethany Pike near Wellsburg was flooding late Wednesday from the heavy rain. But while the area was under a severe thunderstorm warning Wednesday the storm cell appears to have passed south of Jefferson County," noted Palko.

He noted the area may see isolated showers and thunderstorms today and tonight.

"There is a chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely Friday after 10 a.m. and then showers and thunderstorms likely late Friday. Showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. The chance of showers and thunderstorms will continue through Saturday," predicted Palko.

He said Sunday should be mostly cloudy with little chance of precipitation.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com)