West Virginia (WOAY) Appalachian Electric Power (AEP) is in for a busy day as heavy rain and strong wind gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour are causing widespread power outages across AEP’s service area.
AEP reports that with the ground already saturated with water, wind gusts are making it easier for trees to uproot and large limbs to snap, increasing the risk of additional outages.
As of 10:00 am, roughly 43,000 Appalachian Power customers are without electricity.
The hardest-hit areas in West Virginia include Kanawha, Mingo, and Raleigh counties.
Wind gusts above 30 miles per hour can create unsafe conditions for crews working from bucket trucks, which may slow restoration efforts in some areas.
The company expects to restore power to 95 percent of customers by 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, pending continued weather conditions.
Crews and contractors are assessing damage, with additional mutual aid crews arriving from surrounding states to assist.
Officials warn high winds are expected to persist through the day, potentially causing more outages.
Officials remind customers to stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately to 911 or AEP.
More outage updates and safety information are available on the company’s website at AppalachianPower.com.
