Prevailing winds on the playa?

jacksoncrew · Post by **jacksoncrew** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:58 pm

We are making a directional specific shade structure and were wondering if there are prevailing winds on the playa. Does the wind follow any kind of consistent pattern or direction, or is it a completely random maelstrom of dust and destruction?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:26 pm

Absolutely.

bigbluedoggy · Post by **bigbluedoggy** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:28 pm

Yup, what he said!

Woof!

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:55 am

Ahh.. a future weatherperson. Yes indeed they do follow a pattern. Sometimes they can spin in a circular motion and pick up some dust. Don't play in the dustdevil lest you get whisked off to OZ.

Vice · Post by **Vice** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:01 pm

If I wanted to block wind from a certain direction, it would be wind blowing from the entrance of BRC. Cars enter BRC on the west side and kick up the dust for the wind to carry over the whole city.

The wind can change at any time. Last years big white-out came from the east. It looked like a big dark thunderstorm cloud, but there was no water vapor.

Last year's Giant Dust Devil went in many directions including over my camp. It was strong enough to pick up and toss anything loose in the camp... like shade structures and tents.

Dont try to stand in a dust devil!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:38 pm

Toolmaker wrote:Ahh.. a future weatherperson. Yes indeed they do follow a pattern. Sometimes they can spin in a circular motion and pick up some dust. Don't play in the dustdevil lest you get whisked off to OZ.

Like that's a bad thing. Who wouldn't want to get it on with one of those Munchkins?

scootert · Post by **scootert** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:50 pm

Chaotic, to be sure. But I think there is a bit of a tendency for the wind to blow from the west, towards the east. As for shade, it's always nice, but good morning shade is most important so you can sleep in.

Scooter T

-------
This signature sentence contains no meaningful content.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:01 pm

My experience is that most of the time the wind blows from Gerlach into the playa, but as everyone says, it's the weather, so be prepared for high winds from every direction.

See the first two video clips here:
http://civilizedexplorer.phanfare.com/album/112694

The first clip shows the dust devil starting in the playa and coming toward the entrance, and the second shows a dust storm coming from Gerlach and heading toward center camp.