Much of Southwest Virginia was left in the dark Friday night after an evening storm with gusts topping 80mph swept through the area, downing trees and sparking fires.

Between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., dark clouds blotted the sky after a sunny, record hot day. Within minutes lights inside homes began to flicker, and many lost power altogether.

By 11:30 p.m., at least 50,000 Appalachian Power Co. customers were without electricity across Southwest Virginia, according to spokesman Todd Burns. Nearly 1million were in the dark across its entire service territory, Burns added.

Outage reports continued into the quiet hours of the night.

To read the rest of the Roanoke Times story, click here.

The Salem Red Sox game last night was ended early last night due to high winds and flickering lights – they shared this information in their normal post-game press release:

Salem, VA (June 29, 2012) – Around 9 PM, Manny Rivera was loosening for the top of the eighth inning, with Salem trailing Potomac 4-1, when some of the stadium lights went out and the wind started whistling. As more of the lights dimmed, the wind intensified, and both teams retreated to their dugouts and clubhouses while fans were escorted to the sturdy stairwells and the secure ground level tunnel underneath the main concourse. While Mother Nature displayed her power with winds estimated at around 80 miles per hour, everybody waited, with the game officially being called approximately an hour after the delay began.

We also have some storm damage reports from our Salem friends on Facebook, posted around 11 and 12 p.m. last night, Friday, June 29:

Chris Stevens: Limbs down on Alleghany Drive

Beth Jennings: Lots of trees down in my yard on Mitchell rd near exit 137

Jeff Brunk: Below Karen Hills got rocked Mulberry/Pyrtle area..power lines down on my house, trees fell on cars across the street…I’m sure its bad everywhere.

Heather Gillespie Alvarez: Fireworks tent in front of Salem Walmart is in the road.

Robin Realtor-Atkins: My front porch is terrible, my car is totally muddy from my once hanging plants, heavy grill is totally destroyed,

Zach Ruble: Power line down on Mountview rd. off of Callaway! no power

Sandra Elliott: no power at Salem Village

Tammy Davis Epperly: huge mess at the end of Ross in Salem. I have a huge locust tree down in my backyard. Next door neighbor has hole in roof from limb falling. Will post pics in morning.

If you have damage reports or photos you’d like to share, post to our Facebook page or email us at news@sosalem.com.