There are two common ways to die in the desert. Dehydration and drowning.
Craig Childs
Normally, the only way to drown in my part of the desert is to ingest sand. Our sand is actually so fine that it has some attributes of a liquid. But every once in a while another opportunity presents itself.
Hillary 400 miles away
This was the view Friday morning when Sam and I took our walk. Amazing that a structure is so big that you can actually see it that far away. At that point I knew that Hurricane Hillary was a real thing.
It rained all day Saturday, a sort of precursor to the actual event. It was a soft, gentle, windless rain.
So early Sunday morning Sam and I went to the biggest wash in the area to see if there was water running.
Fortuna Wash
This is a really large and well established wash that cuts through my corner of the world. As you can see, there was no water running after 16 hours of rain the previous day.
Water Track
Right in the center of this photo you can see evidence that a tiny amount of water did run. This wash drains an enormous area and I would have actually expected more.
Near Liquid Water
After more than a mile we actually found muddy remains from the day before.
Looking at Hillary
Sunday (today) is scheduled to be our main event. As I write this the 30-40 mph wind has started and heavy rain is forecast in the next couple hours. Just about the time Hillary wades ashore. Where exactly that happens will have a huge impact on me. More to the east/south means more rain in Yuma.
This photo is looking right back at the storm, you can see and feel the potential anger.
Storm Bands and Mountains
You can see the 'bands' of storm clouds here as well as the mountains that will drain all of the rain that falls toward this wash.
It appears somebody is going to get completely inundated today. Will it be Yuma? Probably not. Way more chance for San Diego, LA and Las Vegas. But it would be nice to see a little water in the wash. It's been a while...
Sam's Research
Sam is convinced that digging after a squirrel is a lot harder when the ground is saturated. He's really quite smart that way.
If the worst happens and the wash fills, I'll post more. When it happens it's incredibly violent and exciting. Right this minute the sun is shining brightly-which is often how people get fooled into bad decisions and the previously mentioned drowning.
Take care Tom. Been watching TV and Mexico's flash flooding was horrible.
Batten down the hatches!
All hatches that weren't battened down blew away yesterday! 35 mph sustained wind with gusts into the 50 mph range.
I'll be following the aftermath closely, I'm currently pretty concerned about Death Valley. They were said to be struggling on Saturday...
Just glad you all are okay. Hope the folks up in Death Valley will be as well.
Good to hear from your Tom!
In Fact after seeing the path of Hillary, I am thinking about it.
I expect you will get substantial flash flooding and mudflows. You will get rain worth of a year or more, I have no idea how bad could it be.
So far, it's looking like the storm path tracked off a bit to the west so we've had nothing but high winds today. So far...
Death Valley could be closed by now, that area is getting hammered. The line just west of LA/San Diego is getting hammered, too.
Always good to see you!
following it closely. It is deadly hot in Houston right now. During the day my car temp reading was 109F
The calm before the storm is so unsettling. Take care!
It's windy, really windy and very dusty even after yesterday's rain. It looks like we in Yuma dodged the bullet.
You are so right about the calm before the storm.
Wow, that is pretty impressive. Then they had an earthquake too. Tough times down there. I guess that isn't as uncommon as a hurricane though. It's still pretty crazy. It's hard to imagine all that rain you got earlier just went away so quickly.
Most of the Saturday rain went into the ground, I think. But the top inch or two sure dried out in a hurry. In the face of a Hurricane West Wind as it were :)
Ojai. Got a 5.1 earthquake served with their hurricane. That just amazes me.
Wow, that is crazy! I'm glad it didn't turn out too bad for you though.
Sam's research definitely steals the show here! 😁
Thanks Kitty. Sam is a pretty dedicated researcher.
Its making the news, even here!
Wow. That Hillary is famous!
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Hi Tim, long time no read from you. Glad that you are ok, and hope that the water that comes, will be a good one. All the best from this part of the world!
Yikes, almost missed you again. Sam is looking well chasing ground squirrels tells me is having loads of fun!
Dry river beds are so dangerous when the waters do arrive, flash floods hit so hard you see them coming, hear them too depending on the region.
One gets a feel in the bones when clouds start forming or behaving differently, perhaps next time we will witness the wash with water in it.
Have had some of ours filled to capacity over the past couple of months inland from us.
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