July 25 Heat wave breaker

Today's storms formed along a pre-frontal trough early in the afternoon, meaning I needed to get out earlier than normal to chase.  Unfortunately all the NWS radars in Virginia - and possibly the nation - stopped providing internet access for roughly 90 minutes during the time I really needed situational awareness.  In desperation I rolled out the driveway with my chase gear in a mobile reconnaissance, using the MK 1 eyeball to determine what storms may be worth chasing.  Fortunately I guessed right and headed east into King George county where I set up shop at a favored vantage point to observe oncoming cells. 

I got out of the car to take a few still photos after I'd set up my dash video, and was immediately chased back inside the vehicle by this:

It's been a long time since I was outside and had a CG hit that close, and I just about had to go home and change pants.  There had been no CG's visible prior to this one, but they certainly rained down with vigor after this.

At this point the radars were back up so I noted that the cell I was watching exhibited some rotation on it.  That rotation was literally right above my head as the scud gathered and rose into the updraft.  I watched carefully until the rain set in but never could identify a wall cloud.   Given that the only direction I could go to keep up with the storm was south - the Rappahannock River prevented that option -  I plowed thru the heavy rain westward to reposition in a small break in the line for the next cell and took a few pictures but didn't see much else.  I still have that video to review but there were no more close CG's.