Zanesville, Ohio – Residents across eastern Ohio and parts of northern West Virginia face an elevated severe weather threat this afternoon as a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday across much of the Ohio Valley.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, Tornado Watch 42 covers 11 counties in east-central Ohio, including Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Muskingum, Noble, and Tuscarawas counties.
Cities within the watch zone include Zanesville, Cambridge, Dover, New Philadelphia, Steubenville, East Liverpool, and St. Clairsville, where thunderstorms could intensify as a line of storms tracks east across the region.
The watch also extends into five counties in northern West Virginia, including Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, and Wetzel counties, impacting communities such as Wheeling, Weirton, Wellsburg, Moundsville, and New Martinsville.
Meteorologists warn that storms developing in this environment may produce damaging wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. Rapidly changing conditions are possible as storms move along key travel corridors including Interstate 70, U.S. Route 40, and State Route 7.
Residents should remain weather-aware throughout the afternoon and ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings, including mobile alerts or NOAA Weather Radio. If a tornado warning is issued, move immediately to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
Storms are expected to continue moving east across the Ohio Valley through the late afternoon hours, with additional warnings possible as the system evolves
