ELKINS – The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a Tornado Watch for Randolph and five other West Virginia counties until 5 p.m. today.

Along with Randolph, the counties of Barbour, Upshur, Harrison, Lewis and Taylor are also under the Watch. The NWS states the watch includes the cities of Elkins, Belington, Buckhannon, Philippi, Weston, Bridgeport and Grafton.

A tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Residents are urged to be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued and to take inventory of supplies and have a safe room. Tornado watches typically cover numerous counties and can be spread across states.

The severity of the watch is listed as “extreme,” meaning “extraordinary threat to life or property.”