Storms occurred across parts of West Virginia and Kentucky on Thursday, leading to the formation of at least one tornado, overflowing creeks, and flash flooding in various areas. A wintry mixture of freezing rain coated roads and trees with ice, causing unusual weather events like “thunder ice” reported in several states.
In Indiana, southern Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, residents and storm watchers noted the peculiar combination of freezing rain with bursts of lightning in the unstable atmosphere. “Have you ever seen that?” questioned Brian Heffner of Spencerville, Ohio, as he shared a video on Facebook. “I’ve never witnessed lightning and heard thunder during an ice storm. It’s pretty interesting.”
A wave of thunderstorms kept locals awake overnight, with heavy rainfall resulting in flooded neighborhoods and hazardous conditions on interstate highways. As a result, schools in multiple counties either delayed classes or closed for the day. Authorities in West Virginia reported that multiple drivers were rescued after becoming stranded in the floodwaters, with efforts extending to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, which sought the community’s help in adopting or fostering 15 dogs from a flooded shelter.
In Charleston, several inches of rain prompted local officials to activate an emergency operations center. As of midday, most of West Virginia, along with parts of eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio, remained under flood warnings. Additionally, the National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado in south-central Kentucky, which reached winds of up to 95 mph (150 kph) and caused damage to roofs and scattered debris in Hart County, located about an hour south of Louisville, although there were no immediate reports of injuries.
The storm also resulted in ice accumulation on surfaces in several mid-Atlantic regions, but most locations successfully avoided substantial power outages typically caused by ice build-up on trees and power lines. Snowfall predictions led to delays and closures for numerous school districts in New England, with over 200 schools and businesses in Maine closing or ending their day early. The Kennebunk area school district opted for a full closure, prioritizing safety over a potentially hazardous afternoon commute for school buses.
“The road conditions are anticipated to deteriorate quickly once the snow starts, which could jeopardize the safety of students and staff if we proceeded with an early release,” explained district superintendent Terri Cooper.
