National Weather Service says nine tornadoes hit WV last week

The National Weather Services has now confirmed that nine tornadoes touched down in West Virginia during the storms on July 21 and 22.

The Weather Service’s office in Charleston confirmed six within the West Virginia portion of its forecast area while the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. office confirmed three tornados in Eastern West Virginia: one at Highview, in Hampshire County; another at Seneca Rocks and a third that traveled from Kiser Gap, W.Va. to Criders, Va.

An EF2 tornado hit southeast Ritchie County. Two EF2 tornadoes started in Washington County, Ohio and traveled more than 12 miles into Pleasants County, West Virginia.

Another EF1 tornado started in Washington County, Ohio and traveled 24 miles into Raven Rock, W.Va. and through Pleasants, Tyler and Ritchie countiesy before lifting in Arnolds Creek Road, in Doddridge County, according to the Weather Service. 

Two other tornadoes — rated EF0 and EF1 — traveled less than a mile in Barbour and Randolph counties. 

The EF, or Enhanced Fujita Scale, rates tornadoes based on windspeeds, with EF0 denoting speeds of 65-85 miles per hour and EF5 marking speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. 

Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency Tuesday evening for all 55 counties in the state because of the storms, which also brought straightline wind and dumped 5 to 7 inches of water, causing severe flooding to parts of the state. 

No injuries or deaths have been associated with any of the twisters. The storms tore the roof of the St. Marys home of former West Virginia Del. Donna Boley, according to reporting by Ogden Newspapers. 

Upshur, Lewis and Pleasants counties in North Central West Virginia were among the hardest hit. 

Two deaths have been associated with the storms. James J. Harper, 61, and Judy A. Young, 59, of Upshur County, were found dead inside a vehicle that was recovered from the Stonecoal Lake area of Upshur County, officials say.