Rain finally came to the Shenandoah Valley when summer turned to autumn. It was a pleasant and much-needed transition.
Folks in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley endured one of the hottest and dryest summers on record. We had so little rain that our yard wasn’t mown for nine weeks. Then came the autumnal equinox and downpour after downpour.
No one was complaining. The rain was a blessing, though a bit too late for most farmers to benefit.
We went from sunny, hot, and humid days to gloomy, wet ones. Clouds loaded with moisture that so often detoured around the parched valley in summer found the lovely valley to their liking. Day after day started and ended with rain. Occasional storms brought wind damage and large hail.
Most of all, the cloud decks were low, hiding the views in every direction. After a rain, fog banks sometimes rose from river valleys and enshrouded nearby mountains beneath the looming, nearly stationary rain clouds.
Though the scenes became regular, their eeriness remained. Fortunately, so did the rains.
© Bruce Stambaugh 2024
Roadkill Crossing 
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