Incredible dust storms in Ft. Rock/Christmas Valley area (photos - dial-up warning)

[DemoTex]

I came back out to the lookout early this morning after two days off
in Bend. Between about 9 AM and noon I had a series of sleet showers
move through, and the wind gradually increased. It is gusting over 40
mph now, with higher winds in the forecast.

There is a 238-acre prescribed burn about eight miles north of me (they started
the burn yesterday), that is making me a little nervous. At least the wind
is blowing the fire away from me.

The dust storms down in Ft. Rock and Christmas Valley are incredible!
I just called the National Weather Service Forecast Office in
Pendleton, Or., with an update on the dust storms. Several weeks ago I
was trained by the NWS as a Sky-Warn observer.


This dust storm is over 25 miles to my south.


The nature and locations of these storms change minute-by-minute.


I count four separate dust storms in this wide-angle shot.


What a cloud of dust!


Prescribed burn about eight miles to my north.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Looks like Willamette Valley around August.

During the post-field burn plowing.

[Matariki]

2. Wow.

Nice photos.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Amazing skies

[Arctic Dave]

4. Makes my eyes itchy just looking at it.

[madrchsod]

5. great pictures!

other than that crappy frig...you have one of the best part time jobs in the world