Photographer posts electric storm photos over Shenandoah

A weather photographer using the X handle @forecaster25 posted a set of storm images from Shenandoah National Park on Friday, May 22, 2026, showing lightning and dense cloud formations over the Virginia park. The social post, flagged in a broader social-media roundup of outdoor content, described the scene as “electric storms over Shenandoah National Park.” The images appeared on X with the park identified in the caption, and the post had drawn roughly 62 likes by Friday. The post surfaced as Shenandoah’s official forecast called for showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms later in the day. ### Who posted the photos, and what did the post show? The X account @forecaster25 shared the images on May 22 in a post that highlighted storm activity over Shenandoah National Park. The photos showed lightning and heavy cloud structure above the park, according to the post description provided in the source briefing and the linked X status. The social briefing identified the post as a notable outdoor item on Friday and listed the engagement at 62 likes. (forecast.weather.gov) The briefing also linked directly to the X post and described it as “electric storms over Shenandoah.” ### Was stormy weather expected in Shenandoah on Friday? The National Weather Service forecast for Shenandoah National Park above 2,000 feet, issued late Thursday night by the Baltimore/Washington office, said Friday would bring patchy fog, showers and “a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.” The same forecast said showers would continue Friday night, with another slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. (x.com) The National Park Service’s Shenandoah weather page said conditions can vary widely across the park’s roughly 100-mile length and noted that mountain areas are usually about 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the valley below. The park service directs visitors to check forecasts for Skyline Drive and higher-elevation areas above 2,000 feet. ### What were conditions like inside the park that morning? (forecast.weather.gov) The National Park Service page showed current conditions for Big Meadows in Shenandoah at 6:00 a.m. EDT on May 22, with a temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit, humidity at 100%, east-southeast wind at 3 mph and precipitation running at 0.06 inches per hour. Visibility was listed at 232 miles, and the page marked hazardous weather conditions for park forecast points. (nps.gov) Big Meadows is one of the park locations the service uses to display current weather data. The park service page also provides forecast points for Dickey Ridge and Loft Mountain, underscoring that conditions can differ across the park. ### Why did the images stand out online? The Friday post joined a stream of outdoor and park imagery circulating on social media, but the Shenandoah images were singled out in the source briefing because they combined visible lightning with layered storm clouds over a recognizable national park setting. (nps.gov) The post’s engagement remained modest, in the dozens of likes, rather than the larger counts often seen on major weather or news accounts. The source briefing did not identify the photographer beyond the X handle @forecaster25, and no separate statement from the account holder was available in the materials reviewed. The available post information tied the images to Shenandoah National Park and to Friday’s unsettled weather pattern. ### What comes next for visitors and weather watchers? (x.com) Friday night’s Shenandoah forecast called for more showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms, and the National Weather Service outlook for Saturday also called for showers across the park. The National Park Service said visitors should keep checking the current and extended forecasts for Skyline Drive and other higher-elevation areas as conditions change. (forecast.weather.gov)