SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CHASE in Rockingham County, VA 6.26.24

Though not warned at first - we could tell this bow echo with a pinch of rotation on the northern quadrant of the storm had damaging potential - and we bailed on the LP storm that was weakening in Harrisonburg to get on this cell that was - at the time - in Augusta County. Booking it north, this cell was rapidly growing - and when we got on it I could see a dramatic lowering on its western side. At the NW edge of the shelf cloud you will see a lowering cloud base - possibly a wall cloud. As the rain finally outpaced this part of the storm, cold air punched out and rather than trying to go tornadic - the cold downburst produced significant damage along with the rest of the linear storm - and brought trees and powerlines down across the region. These 60+ mph winds prompted a severe thunderstorm warning by NWS Sterling/Baltimore, and the rest is history. Follow us on this chase on June 26, 2024!