A heat wave has hit the Shenandoah Valley and much of Virginia as sweltering temperatures hit 100 degrees on Thursday, causing parched fields and yards. This is weather usually seen in mid-July with crunchy browned grass, high humidity, and blistering black top.
In southwestern Rockingham County outside Harrisonburg, Mennonite and Amish farmers worked their dry fields, hoping for a rain shower to encourage a better harvest. Their un-airconditioned houses were steamy with the heavy, hot air as farm animals looked for shade, swishing their tails at a persistent army of flies that appeared to flourish in the hot weather. Overheated cows stood chest-deep in farm ponds, cooling off in the mid-day heat.
Thunderheads formed over the Appalachians as the National Weather Service and local weather forecasters warned of possible severe thunderstorms into the evening with possible tornadoes, hail, and damaging high winds:
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the entire viewing area until 8 p.m. Thursday. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe storms to develop bringing potential isolated tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. Be sure to tune into TV3 for updates on severe weather conditions.
VALLEY – Showers and thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon as a cold front moves through the Valley. High temperatures will be in the mid 90’s once again. This evening storms move out with the cold front around 10:00 p.m. Overnight lows fall to the mid 60’s with a few lingering showers early. A drier heat sets in for Friday under mostly sunny skies. Expect the heat and humidity again for the weekend with showers and storms possible each day. Some storms may be severe. By Tuesday next week we’ll finally see a cool down into the low and mid 80s.
Hopefully, there may finally be some relief from the hot, dry summer weather.
