Monday, December 17, 2012, we had a dust storm in Lubbock. It was bad, but manageable. Tuesday was clear. But we knew that we were in for another dust storm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.
Well, it has been a doozie of a dust storm http://lubbockonline.com/ and http://www.kcbd.com/. It blew in about 1:30 PM, as predicted. At times this afternoon, visibility was nil. The airport had flight delays. It rained mud balls.
Interestingly, Tommy Tuberville, ex Texas Tech football coach, who hated the wind was supposedly stranded at the airport due to the wind http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/texas-tech-red-raiders/20121219-did-west-texas-weather-leave-tommy-tuberville-stranded-at-lubbock-airport.ece.
There was a serious accident north of Lubbock, with one fatality, and the use of an on sight triage system by the EMS http://everythinglubbock.com/fulltext?nxd_id=142632. It was a multi-vehicle accident, including involving at least one semi.
Route 84 between Lubbock and Post, southeast of Lubbock, was closed for a time this afternoon.
We were advised to not use the Loop or Interstate to drive home.
I believe my office has some compromised seals, because I have reactions to the wind and dust there, where I do not have such reactions in other parts of the building. My house seems to be fairly well sealed, but we do get a fine film, especially with the comings and goings.
This is frightening, but understandable; the fields are bare. There has been no appreciable moisture. Even if there had been moisture, the strength of the wind dries the bare earth so quickly that it is inevitable that the dust blows.
Are we in for another dust bowl? Who knows. But I will tell you. I have lived in Lubbock for 35 years. I have seen dust storms worse than this. Usually, they are in the early spring. But, what happens, happens.
No comments:
Post a Comment