Power interruptions likely with incoming storms

Appalachian Power Company (APCo) is preparing for a line of strong storms with gusty winds that could cause service interruptions. The company’s meteorology team forecasts a weather system that will begin west of its service territory tonight, June 17, and move eastward over the next 48 hours.

A line of strong storms with winds from 40-50 mph is predicted to move into APCo’s region, including parts of southwestern Virginia, southern West Virginia and eastern Tennessee, early Thursday, June 18, with the chance for isolated severe storms through the evening.

“Widespread storms and sustained winds are the conditions that typically lead to power outages,” said David Robinson, APCo’s major storm incident commander. “Our team has worked proactively this week to make sure we are prepared to respond and restore power, should outages occur, as quickly and safely as possible.”

High winds can topple trees and down power lines, creating outages and safety hazards. APCo’s Storm Response Team encourages customers to prepare for potential outages and enroll in Outage Alerts for real-time notifications. For tips on preparing before a storm, visit AppalachianPower.com/Safety.