Calling Weather Nerds

There is a very localized and very intense but quiet electrical storm that seems to be sitting over the mountains North East of Charlottesville for the last couple of hours. I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like it and I'm hoping there is a local weather enthusiast or professional who can explain what's going on.

Around 9 pm I went to the Giant on Pantops. On the way, at about the Free Bridge, I noticed what looked like a single cloud with very bright lightning flashes every 30 seconds or so. I was in Giant for about 30 minutes and was surprised to see it still happening when I came out. It was in the same place over the mountains across rt. 250 to the North East of Pantops Shopping Center.

I just went outside a few minutes ago and can still see the same thing happening from my house. It's just as intense as it was earlier and it's still just in one location. It's like a fireworks show above a stadium.

I have pretty much ruled out fireworks and alien invasion, but can't figure out why that would happen. Is this a regular thing that I have somehow missed in the past?