Nearly 130,000 residents in central Virginia were urged to seek indoor shelter on Wednesday afternoon as severe thunderstorms swept through the area, creating hazardous conditions. These storms, packing winds up to 60 mph, threatened to break large tree limbs, knock down trees, and turn loose objects into projectiles, endangering people, damaging property, blocking roads, and hindering emergency services. Persistent lightning and the possibility of widespread power failures heightened the immediate safety concerns.