Una tormenta

calima – haze caused by dust from Sahara

street signs snapped off

wind-swept palm trees

4am early hours of Sunday morning a storm struck. It then built up in force.

The damage was extensive, streets signs snapped in two, lamps broken off, lamps uprooted, trees uprooted, debris everywhere.

During the morning, almost impossible to walk, the wind so strong.

Very fine sand blown in from the Sahara.

A couple of week ago, there had been an official warning of a storm. It proved to be a false alarm.

For this storm, there was no official warning, and yet the meteorological signs were plain for all to see. Late Saturday afternoon and early evening the sea was shrouded in what appeared to be mist. It was not mist, it was dust from the Sahara. It was exceptionally warm. Even by 1am, it was still very warm. Locals were referring to calima. Sunday morning and during the day, it was still very warm.

Why is there no system in place, when these storms hit the islands nearest Africa the other islands are not warned?

The lack of official warning, meant the damage was more extensive then it needed to be.

When these storms hit, within a couple of days, many people fall ill, coughing, flu-like symptoms, ache, groggy heard, fever. Locals are more vulnerable than visitors.  Fine dust penetrating deep into the lungs, allergic reaction, viruses?

Calima: Hot-dust laden storm originating in the Sahara.

An afternoon walk in a storm

setting sun

This morning a storm hit, gale force winds and very heavy rain.

This afternoon I decided I would go out for a walk in the countryside in the storm.

It was a bit hairy to say the least.

The wind was howling through the trees. Branches were snapping off.

As I walked under a tree, I did wonder would a heavy branch come crashing down on my head. Temping fate.

Thick black snow clouds came scudding in, but they passed as quickly as they arrived.

The sun was setting as I set off. Now it was getting dark.

It was only a few degrees above zero, wind chill made it much lower.

I walked almost to the top of a hill and was almost blown away. My head was numb with the cold.

Walking back, I thought of Santiago conjuring up the wind. [see The Alchemist]

Wind speeds locally:

Skegness 67 mph
Cranwell 60 mph