By Barbara Watson Virginia averages 35 to 45 thunderstorm days per year. Thunderstorms can occur any day of the year and at any time of the day, but are most common in the late afternoon and evening during the summer months.
Thunderstorms are generally beneficial.
They provide needed rain for crops, plants, and reservoirs. However, about five percent of thunderstorms become severe and can produce tornadoes, large hail, damaging downburst winds, and heavy rains causing flash floods. Thunderstorm can develop in less than 30 minutes, allowing little time for warning. All thunderstorms produce lightning which can be deadly. The National Weather Service does not issue warnings for ordinary thunderstorms nor for lightning.