An area of thunderstorms formed over the northern Shenandoah Valley during the evening of the 26th.  This area of storms produced very heavy rainfall, dangerous lightning, and periodic bursts of hail as it remained nearly stationary over the area between 5 and 8 PM EDT.  Up to 3 inches of rain fell across the area in less than 4 hours.  In Shenandoah County, 2.60 inches of rain fell in Mount Olive in two hours.  Route 623 and 653 were closed by high water.  In Strasburg, Back Road was closed when a creek overflowed onto the roadway.  Roads were also closed by flooding in Woodstock.  In Rappahannock County, Route 522 and 635 near Flint Hill and Huntley were closed by high water.  A total of 2.65 inches a rain was reported at Massie's Corner.  In Page County, a lightning strike started a structure fire in Luray.In Frederick County, heavy rain falling at a rate of up to 2.5 inches an hour caused flooding across the western and central portions of the county.  At least 10 roads were closed by high water from rising creeks and streams.  Water and debris covered Route 522 after Issac Run overflowed north of Winchester.  West of Winchester on Route 50, Hogue Creek overflowed onto Route 50 and forced the closure of 2 of the 4 lanes of traffic.  Near Stevenson, Interstate 81 was flooded at mile marker 320 and all southbound lanes had to be closed for an hour.  A tractor trailer crossing this section of roadway hydroplaned off the road.  Other roads closed by high water included North Hayfield Road, Northwestern Pike, North Mountain Road, and Ebenezeer Road.  Basements were flooded in Winchester.  Tavenner Run overflowed its banks in Gainesboro and destroyed a small private access bridge, an above ground pool, and a fiberglass fishing boat.  Pieces of the boat were found in the creek after the water subsided.  Saturated soil allowed a tree in Cross Junction to fall across a road. Enough hail fell to turn the ground white in Stevenson, Cross Junction, Gainesboro, and Winchester.  Drifts of hail up to 4 inches deep could still be found in Gainesboro the next morning.

Lightning in FREDERICK, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 19:00:00 to 26-MAY-01 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: WHITE HALL
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Lightning started hay bales on fire 10 miles north of Winchester.

Hail in FREDERICK, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 19:25:00 to 26-MAY-01 19:25:00 (EST)
Location: CLEAR BROOK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Quarter sized hail accumulated up to 2 inches just northeast of Winchester.

Lightning in PAGE, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 20:08:00 to 26-MAY-01 20:08:00 (EST)
Location: LURAY
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning started a structure fire.

Flash Flood in RAPPAHANNOCK, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 17:00:00 to 26-MAY-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

Flash Flood in SHENANDOAH, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 17:00:00 to 26-MAY-01 21:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

Flash Flood in FREDERICK, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 17:00:00 to 26-MAY-01 23:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 8K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Heavy Rain in WINCHESTER (C), VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 16:00:00 to 26-MAY-01 18:00:00 (EST)
Location: WINCHESTER
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WINCHESTER (C), VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 18:55:00 to 26-MAY-01 18:55:00 (EST)
Location: WINCHESTER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Nickel sized hail was reported.

Hail in FREDERICK, VIRGINIA
From 26-MAY-01 19:00:00 to 26-MAY-01 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: CROSS JCT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Nickel sized hail fell.