2018 Playa Conditions

[Captain Goddammit]

2015 was actually cold during the day, especially Saturday. Nights were super freezing-ass cold.
It was a generally miserable fucking weather year.
Always plan for hot AND for cold.

[Traveller in Time]

Can not see the Playa from Gerlach, I can see Granite Point for the first time today.

There is dust/ haze/ fog/ smoke in the air

[Drizzt321]

Remember 2-3 years ago when it felt like it was 40 by midnight?

That was 2015, and that's what you get when daytime highs are only in the 80s or low 90s. It didn't just feel like 40 by midnight, it was 40 by midnight. I was getting temps in the high 30s inside my tent trailer before going to bed... Brrrr, hope it's not one of those this year.

I couldn't do enough jumping jacks, sprints, or ride my bike fast enough to get warm on several nights that year...

Sadly I didn't think to dress in layers, so I barely made it out of camp at all.

Current 10 day seems to show lows in the lower 50s. And not at midnight. I can live with that!

[Traveller in Time]

Camera in the shadow while there is sun on the mountains I can see both Granite Point and Selenite Peak.

[Canoe]

If it gets cold enough at night for snow, don't forget to step outside so you can watch the Canadians dance in the streets.

[Token]

Locals reporting from the dust say windy as all getgo.

Whiteouts regularly on gate road.

NWS 7-day forecast (yes, not outlook but real forecast) is for steady mid to high 80s daytime. Nights are high 40s to low 50s.

By Playa standards, this is rather nippy so bring layers and the big furs. Otherwise you may have to cuddle with ravers.

NWS wind forcast is strong daily winds from the west, on and off for the next 7 days.

Reference site used:

http://www.weatherstreet.com/states/nev ... recast.htm

Stay Warm FKOs!

[Token]

Expect Delays at Gate due to whiteouts and gate closures. There is also a gate crew staffing snafu but that’s another topic altogether.

Reno NWS Red Flag Warning:

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR
WESTERN NEVADA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Zone 270 Surprise Valley California, Fire
Zone 278 Eastern Lassen County, Fire Zone 450 Western Nevada
Sierra Front, Fire Zone 453 West Central Nevada Basin and
Range and Fire Zone 458 Northern Washoe County.

* Winds...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts 30 to 35 mph.

* Minimum humidity...6-12%.

* Duration...3-5 hours in most locations, up to 6-8 hours in
west central Nevada.

* Impacts...The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity.

[Traveller in Time]

In the early morning the light will get brighter

And get even brighter after supposed sunrise

Still getting brighter as by 7:30 the first glimpse of sunlight breaks through

As intermission the dust gets up and keep on getting denser until a complete whiteout

Sometimes the visibility is enough to find the portapotties

[FIGJAM]

BMIR just said gate is closed due to dust. Wait somewhere for a while

[Token]

Confirmed. Gate will be closed for several hours at least.

BxB Is also blocked and delayed.

[Token]

Weeeeeeeeee!

D and Staging Lot don't sound so bad anymore ...

[Token]

Nifty way to see the wind:

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/w ... 65,40.7864

I set that to the "Golden Spike" coordinates.

[Token]

And the party at gate resumes.

Gate is open.

[Token]

And gate is finally no longer constipated!

Looks like they scrambled enough gate volunteers to relieve the pressure.