An unseasonably warm and moist air mass in advance of a strong late spring cold front brought the first significant severe thunderstorm event to the Blacksburg, VA National Weather Service forecast area of the 2015 calendar year.  The bulk of the severe thunderstorms were mainly east of the Blue Ridge, but began around 530 pm EDT in the Southern Shenandoah Valley and northern Blue Ridge counties within the forecast area.  Another round of severe thunderstorms began around 1000 pm EDT near Lynchburg and moved east across the Piedmont, affecting some of the same counties impacted by storms earlier in the evening.

Thunderstorm Wind in AMHERST, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 18:38:00 to 11-MAY-15 18:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: MADISON HGTS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The Amherst County 911 Center reported that a tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Kings Road, approximately two miles north of Lynchburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in AMHERST, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 18:50:00 to 11-MAY-15 18:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: MADISON HGTS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The Amherst County 911 Center reported that a tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Campbell Street or approximately two miles east-northeast of Lynchburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMPBELL, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 20:57:00 to 11-MAY-15 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: TIMBERLAKE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Campbell County Emergency Management Director, along with trained spotters and the public, reported that several trees were down in the Timberlake area of northern Campbell county, or just south of Lynchburg.  One tree was uprooted onto a car near the intersection of Horseman Drive and Sleepy Hollow Road.  Another tree was down on Timberlake Drive, and two trees were down near the Waterlick Shopping Center.

Hail in AMHERST, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 17:29:00 to 11-MAY-15 17:29:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLEASANTVIEW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The public reported via Twitter quarter-sized hail approximately three miles west of Pleasant View.

Hail in AMHERST, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 18:30:00 to 11-MAY-15 18:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: AMHERST
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter observed nickel-sized hail approximately five miles southwest of Amherst.

Hail in CAMPBELL, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 21:20:00 to 11-MAY-15 21:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: LYNCHBURG CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter observed quarter-sized hail approximately five miles southeast of Lynchburg.

Hail in CAMPBELL, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 21:29:00 to 11-MAY-15 21:29:00 (EST-5)
Location: CONCORD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in Concord.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCKBRIDGE, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 16:50:00 to 11-MAY-15 16:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUFFALO FORGE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The Rockbridge County 911 Center reported that a tree was down on Bunker Mill Hill Road, and a second tree was blown down on Forge Road near Rolling Meadow Drive.

Hail in AMHERST, VIRGINIA
From 11-MAY-15 18:00:00 to 11-MAY-15 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PEDLAR MILLS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

The public provided a report via Facebook of nickel-sized hail in the Pedlar Mills area or about three miles northeast of Naola.