Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Dust Storm

I've heard of Dust Storms, but had never experienced one before.

We were along the middle of nowhere when it hit.  Hot winds whipped over the lip of the arid hills, sending long curling dust clouds billowing out toward us.

The dust grew thick, engulfing us in a murky underworld.  Though our windows were tightly shut, the dashboard of the van quickly gathered a thin layer of dust.

The sun shone darkly. 

And then after what seemed forever, we were out and away--you can see the edges of the storm as it moved to the East.  Blue skies never looked so beautiful!

11 comments:

Sunny said...

Wow, Beth! That's incredible. It's good that you were inside a vehicle for protection.
☼ Sunny

Al said...

Fascinating! We get dust devils all the time out here, but I've never seen an actual dust storm. One time a dust devil passed right over me while I was in the yard, it was a very strange experience as it was completely calm right in the middle.

Halcyon said...

Must have been interesting. I've never been in one, but it sounds neat - as long as you have somewhere safe to ride it out.

Clytie said...

Incredible. I've been in one. Once. I'm so glad you were protected - again!

I was picking berries the other day when I heard a rickety bicycle messing around behind me. I turned around and it was a dust devil - I have never heard such a noise - and it was just the wind! No debris even. then with a long sucking thwwwwck! it twirled into itself and disappeared upwards into nothing. Wow, I had forgotten about that!

~Cheryl said...

Great series of shots! I've experienced dust devils and that was dust enough for me.

Jeannette StG said...

Oh, I'm glad for you it did not last too long. Am not looking forward to be in one!

'Tsuki said...

I lived one when I was younger and I was living in Egypt... We were coming back from the coast of the Red sea, to Maadi (Cairote suburb), and with no sign taht it was coming, we were stopped by this sand storm, and we waited in the cars it cool down... Very impressive. I was 11, but I still remember it as if it was yesterday...

It is a promise of death all that is glassy, cause the sand hit everything, causing little tiny holes, very dangerous : the windshield of the car was picketed, and by night light reflections made impossible to see throught it...

Thanks for the sharing, it brings back a lot of memories for me...

Lois said...

How scary! I'm glad you were able to make it through OK.

Sheri said...

beth, the photos were very cool! i remember being a kid in las vegas when a dust storm hit our little trailer park. i had just stepped off the school bus and was surrounded by wind and dirt just moments later...i ran under a trailer and wrapped myself around a tower of cement blocks that held the home up! better that than to end up in kansas ;)

James said...

Wonderful shots! I've never been in a dust storm before.

Anonymous said...

Good photos! Nature is always incredible.