8:20 p.m.

Dominion Power now says nearly 40,000 customers are without power in the Richmond area: 15,000 in Richmond, 18,000 in Henrico County and 5,000 in Chesterfield County.

7:59 p.m.

Dominion Power said tonight that about 43,000 customers were without power of the 700,000 customers served in the Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico area.

“The first thing we are doing is identifying the scope of the work that needs to be done,” said company spokesman Karl Neddenien. He said crews have been prepared and on duty since this morning. 

“We’ve been watching the progress of the storm for the last few days,” he said, referring to the approaching cold front.

About 25,000 Richmond city customers were without power tonight and about 16,700 in the Midlothian area, Neddenien said. About 1,000 customers are located in other areas.

Neddenien said the utility recorded isolated winds of 70 mph and “that was where the heaviest damage is.”

There was no estimate about how soon power will be restored, but repairs will be made to areas where the most customers can see a quick return to service.

7:49 p.m.

The National Weather Service at its Wakefield office said this evening that they have found no evidence that a violent wave of storm cells moving southeast through the Richmond metropolitan area produced tornadoes.

“There were some funnel clouds but no tornadoes that we know of,” said meteorologist Chris Wamsley.  “We had areas of winds reaching 60 miles per hour but generally is was in the 40 miles per hour range with downed trees reaching all the way into Tidewater.”

The swath of storm cells, created from an invading cold front, generally stretched from Colonial Heights to eastern Henrico County and moved through the area from 5:15 p.m. through 6:30 p.m. 

Widespread power outages existed throughout the Richmond metropolitan area, with the heaviest concentrations in the West End of the city and central and western Henrico. About 38,000 people were without power in Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond.

Many commuters found themselves weaving their way home throuhg closed streets, fallen trees and downed power lines.

“It was like driving trhough a hurricane,” said Kate Foster, who worked her way west on Monument Avenue from downtown Richmond, only to find a friend’s car smothered beneath fallen maple tree in the 3400 block of Grove Avenue.

7:07 p.m.

Henrico firefighters were working three major fires, including one at an apartment complex at Breezy Bay Circle struck by lightning.

Assistant fire marshal Will Shumate said that residents “felt the building shake and then there was fire.” Twelve apartments were evacuated and residents were being housed at an are hotel, Shumate said.

Two other major fires were being handled this evening, and supervisory personnel were being called in to help coordinate efforts to handle scores of down trees, power lines and fires, Shumate said.

The apartment complex is off Gayton Road North between Interstate 64 and West Broad Street. Shumate said there were no injuries.

In neighoring Hanover County, a dispatcher said damage was relatively light, although some fire units were asked to assist Henrico.

Dominion Virginia Power reports nearly 42,200 customers in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield are without electrical service because of the storms. The majority of those without power appear to be in western Henrico and Richmond.

The storm that passed through the region produced winds topping 60 mph. It dropped up to 2 inches of rain in some places — and no rain in others.

Before the storms hit, Richmond’s temperature hit 101 degrees, tying the 17-year-old record for the date. More significantly, that marked the 10th time Richmond has hit triple-digit temperatures this year, the National Weather Service said.

“That sets the all-time record,” said Chris Wamsley, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

6:23 p.m.

Fire reported near the Cary Street exit of the Downtown Expressway.

Lightning apparently struck an elderly care home along Gaskins Road in Henrico County. The building was evacuated.

6:16 p.m.

Dominion Virginia Power reports nearly 43,000 customers in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield are without electrical service because of the storms. The outage are concentrated in western Henrico (about 20,000 customers) and Richmond (about 15,000).

5:52 p.m.

Trees are reported down on Monument Avenue in Richmond, as well as Three Chopt Road.

In western Henrico County, about 7,800 are reported to be without power. Power lines are down on Nuckols Road and on West Broad Street. According to Dominion Virginia Power, about 43,000 customers in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield counties are without service.

Westcreek Apartments near Short Pump have been damaged by fire, apparently by a lightning strike, and there are reports of a house fire in the Carrington subdivision of Henrico County, near Staples Mill and Springfield roads.

5:39 p.m.

Traffic lights are out, trees are down and streets are flooded as a result of the severe thunderstorm moving through the Richmond area.

Chesterfield County dispatchers report their 911 system is lit up with emergency calls.  Richmond police are responding to reports of trees down throughout the area. 

The National Weather Service says the storm may be carrying wind gusts of up to 60 mph and may produce one-inch hail.

In Cumberland County, the seather system brought heavy wind and rain and toppled many trees, the sheriff’s department reports.

Here are the Top 10 happy hour places … that we love anyway. Check out ours and then leave yours in the comments below.

Ipanema Cafe

Great outdoor patio perfect for VCU hipster watching

Garnett’s Cafe

Three bucks for a glass of wine is awesome, especially when so many places just forget about wine at happy hour.

Sticky Rice

This is the place to be on Friday between 5 and 6 for half price sushi.There are only a select few to choose from but it’s definitely worth it. So grab some sushi and PBR tall boy and you’re all set and ready for the weekend.

Baja Bean CO.

The patio at Baja is always nice to sit out and relax on after a rough day.　Plus, their prices can’t be beat and their salsa is delicious.

The Republic Restaurant & Bar

$2.00 drafts for happy hour and smoking lounge for those that smoke!

Bellytimber Tavern

It might have new owners, and be clean and pretty now, and technically even be a whole new restaurant, but to tried and true Richmond.com’ers it’s always The Border. Our Border. But Bellytimber ain’t half bad, what with its natural light, clean floors, daily happy hour specials and attentive servers. I guess that works too.

Penny Lane

We’ve got to give a shout out to our new happy hour hangout and share our love for wodden nickels.

Water Grill

The fun might end at 6 p.m. at Water Grill, but it’s fun while it lasts – it’s half-off the raw bar, and half-off a whole bunch of drinks.

New York Deli

Cheap drinks, daily food specials and great people watching … who could ask for anything more?

Can Can Brasserie

Some of the specials are only a certain days and they’re always only available at the bar, but it’s great fun for good food and fabulous wine.