Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/02/18

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: Operation "Storm in the Desert"
From: luisripoll at telefonica.net (Luis Ripoll)
Date: Mon Feb 18 14:47:04 2008
References: <5.1.0.14.2.20080217145006.00c0a3a0@mail.2alpha.com>

Very good document Peter, impressive Storm!
Saludos cordiales
Luis
 

-----Mensaje original-----
De: lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org] En nombre de
Peter Klein
Enviado el: lunes, 18 de febrero de 2008 0:11
Para: lug@leica-users.org; leica@freelists.org
Asunto: [Leica] IMG: Operation "Storm in the Desert"

Palm Springs.  Ah, yes.  Gently swaying palm trees, warm desert breezes.

Well, not always.  Shortly after our arrival, the vast Pacific storm that
had been dumping on Los Angeles decided to move east.  Most of the moisture
got squeezed out as the clouds moved over the intervening mountains.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002624-prf.jpg.html

But the energy remained.  It came roaring down the mountainsides, and hit
the valley about 45 minutes after the Super Bowl started.

Branches started falling off the palm trees
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002625-prf.jpg.html
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002632-prf.jpg.html

We took advantage of a lull to get to the safety of our hotel, a few blocks
away.  Then it really started to blow again, with the winds reversing
several times.  The top gusts were just under about 70 mph (113 kph).
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002637-prf.jpg.html
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002642-prf.jpg.html

And debris really started to fly around:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002643-prf.jpg.html
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/pklein/palmsprings/L1002644-prf.jpg.html

The power went out, with no rhyme or reason to it.  Some blocks had
electricity, some didn't.  There were a lot of ticked-off football fans
trying to find a bar with a working TV between gusts. I have no record of
these, as I was not going to risk getting bopped upside the head by an
errant palm tree.

This same storm moved across the country, joined up with some moisture from
Mexico, and caused the horrible tornados that caused so much grief in
Missouri and Tennessee on "Super Tuesday" primary election day.

M8, 35 and 50mm Summicrons. This is your roving reporter, reporting.
--Peter


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In reply to: Message from pklein at 2alpha.net (Peter Klein) ([Leica] IMG: Operation "Storm in the Desert")