Spooky Rock and Scary Weather

Cloud chasing and tornado trekking

 What could be more exciting than driving out to one's favorite rock outcropping in the desert and then almost getting caught in a tornado?

 On a warm June morning, I noticed a few fluffy clouds starting to form over the distant mountains and decided to do some photo-exploring in the Garfield Flats area.  In landscape photography clouds always add drama to the sky and most often with the weather patterns here in the Great Basin Desert, clouds are all we get.    

Garfield Flats is located just off U.S. 95 and a short drive from Hawthorne, Nevada.  The flat, open area has some very unusual rock formations and one out-cropping has been appropriately named Spooky Rock. 

I planned my arrival to Spooky Rock in the morning when the sun would throw front lighting on the grimacing rocks.  A mixture of cirrus and cumulus clouds was beginning to grow in the western sky.

 One grouping of clouds over a monolithic stand of rocks appeared to have faces, matching the ones on Spooky Rock.

As I turned toward the south, a large circle of clouds was creeping in over the mountain range; it looked like the Mother Ship was arriving!  The cloud formations were getting more interesting and I was enjoying the scenery.

During my stop for lunch, I watched cumulus clouds mass together over the rugged landscape to the west. 

In just a few minutes. one of the clouds in the west was now growing upward and taking on the characteristic anvil-shape of a towering cumulonimbus cloud.  The ground level was heating up and if there was enough moisture the atmosphere could become unstable.

So far the weather appeared to be typical of a warm Great Basin afternoon when dry microburst just producing virga, a precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground.  However, from studying weather during my private pilot training, I knew that if the evaporation of water continued to cool the air, the microburst could grow in to a full developed thunderstorm.

After carefully scanning the sky, I began to realize that the weather was turning more ominous toward the east.  The cold air rushing down from the cloud was spreading out along the surface of the desert, creating a gust front.  I was starting to get a feeling that it was time to end my day of photo-exploring and get back on the paved road.

Turing around, the lighting on the distant hills just too awesome not to stop for a quick photo. 

I began to hear thunder toward the east and with the sky growing darker, I knew that I must not wait too long or I might get caught in a flash flood which can happen any time there is a thunderstorm out in the desert.

Slowing down to maneuver on the narrow dirt road, I looked up to see a group of Mammatus (pouch-like) clouds in the southeast sky.  These clouds may not be a sign that a tornado is likely to form but they do indicate sinking air.

  

Finally turning north on the highway, big raindrops were just starting to hit the windshield.  I realized that I was on the leading edge of a macroburst which can cover 2 miles or more with damaging winds, hail and even a possible tornado.  Along with the pounding rain, pea size hail started to bounce off the windshield. 

Driving past Hawthorne, the winds increased and the hail grew larger.  After parking in the garage, the wind, rain and hail really broke lose but I was safe at home.  It was after the storm had cleared that I received the message that the south end of Hawthorne was been hit with an F-1 tornado and there had been damage to several homes and businesses.  I began to realize that while I was traveling north toward Hawthorne, the tornado was just off the tail of my truck.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

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