Thunderstorm Wind in Bland County, Virginia

A severe storm produced damaging wind gusts, knocking a tree down on Wilderness Road.

A stationary front, draped across the foothills and Piedmont and supported aloft by multiple waves of energy entering from the Tennessee Valley, provided the triggers for scattered slow-moving thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon across the mountains and foothills. Strong daytime heating provided the instability to allow some storms to intensify to severe levels, producing damaging winds and hail. In addition, deep tropical moisture in place in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias allowed some storms to produce heavy rain, with 2-4 inch per hour rainfall rates at times. Light winds aloft made for slow storm movement, allowing storms to remain over the same locations for extended periods of time.