CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Severe storms that tore through the central Virginia region Monday afternoon took down trees and power lines across central Virginia and the Valley.
A large line of storms that ranged from north of Baltimore down into North Carolina hit Charlottesville and Albemarle County around the 5 p.m., hours bringing strong winds that cut power to tens of thousands.
As of 9:40 p.m., more than 8,000 were without power in Albemarle County. First responders scrambled to deal with downed trees and disabled vehicles, according to a social media post from the Albemlare County Police Department.
Dominion Energy Virginia reported at 9;40 p.m. more than 63,000 customers without power throughout the western Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. Repair crews were working to restore power.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s office reported similar weather issues.
More than 3,500 were reported by Dominion without power over the mountain in Augusta and Rockingham counties, and more than 1600 were out this side of the mountain on Louisa.
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative reported on its website “significant damage” to their infrastructure with 4,400 of their members without power as of 9:40 p.m. More than 300 of those were in Albemarle and 860 in Nelson County.
In Shenandoah National Park, the National Park Service reported at 5:43 p.m. Skyline Drive closed from Swift Run to Waynesboro because of multiple downed trees.
The Ciry of Charlottesville had gusty winds, vivid lightning, and heavy rain, but managed mostly to be missed by the worst storms, although Dominion reported at 9:40 p.m. some 50 city customers without power.
