Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Virginia, June 26, 2000

Thunderstorms developed across the area on the afternoon of the 26th. The strongest storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall. In Albemarle County, trees were downed at the Charlottesville Airport and across the northern part of the county. In Orange County, a tree was downed on to Constitution Highway in Montpelier. In Nelson County, a trailer was destroyed by fire after being hit by lightning. In Spotsylvania County, trees were downed at the intersection of Routes 640 and 3 east of Wilderness Corner. Several small fires around the county were blamed on lightning. Three trees and a power line were downed in Fredericksburg and three homes were damaged by lightning strikes. Nearly 7000 city customers lost power as a direct result of the storm. In Stafford County, a tree was downed just east of the Fredericksburg city limits on River Road and Kings Highway. In Frederick County, a chimney was blown over and tree limbs were downed east of Winchester. Lightning also downed a tree onto a storage building in Winchester where an inch of rain fell in 15 minutes. In Clarke County, several trees were downed onto power lines, cars, and roads from Boyce south and east to the county line. Hardest hit areas included Boyce, Calmes Neck, Millwood, and Waterloo.