The state's 20th tornado of 2024 was confirmed in Pocahontas County

Jill Seldomridge and her family spent an evening on the porch of their Pocahontas County home Wednesday watching the weather develop. They got much more than they bargained for.

“One storm came from the south and another came over the mountain from the west. We were just sitting there watching and all of a sudden I thought, 'Oh, these clouds are swirling a bit.' I pulled out my phone, started recording and thought, 'Oh, this is really happening!'” she laughed .

Video by Jill Seldomeridge

Lonnie Fogus, of White Sulfur Springs, was on his way to Denmar Correctional Center with several colleagues and received an alert on his phone as they drove through Mill Point.

“You could see the cell forming southwest of where we were, and once we crested the hill coming from Mill Point to Hillsboro, you could see it back there where the cell tower is clear as day,” he said.

He and his friends pulled out their phones and began recording the rare site.

“At one point it looked like two small twin tornadoes spiraling around each other. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was cool,” Fogus added.

The video confirmed tornado touchdown, which is extremely rare in this part of the state due to the hilly terrain. However, it was the 20th confirmed tornado touchdown in the Mountain State for 2024. The number was already at a record high and Wednesday's storm increased the total.

Fortunately, the storm did not last long on the ground and never reached the point where it could destroy homes or other buildings.

“We don't know the exact length of the route, but it went through a pasture, some fields, and that was it. “We were very fortunate that it didn't hit any structures and there were no injuries as a result,” said Kevin Stitzinger, deputy director of Pocahontas County Emergency Services.

Sitziner said they received a few calls to 911 about people seeing the tornado, but no calls about injuries or damage. He said they were also glad that those who received the 911 call on their phones stayed out of harm's way and did the right things to protect themselves and their families.

Video by Lonnie Fogus