CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State employees are heading back to work as utilities reduce the number of power outages across West Virginia.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said state employees should report to work Tuesday, unless contacted by a supervisor.

Tomblin told all but essential state workers to stay home Monday to avoid unnecessary travel while emergency crews and utility workers were out.

Severe storms on Friday night knocked out power to more than 680,000 customers across the state. By Tuesday morning, crews had reduced the outages to more than 348,000.