So we managed mysteriously to get away from Flagstaff at 7:40am (target time was 7:30, so - not so bad!) Flagstaff at 7:40, Kingman about 2 hours later, Barstow about 3 hours after that. PHEW was it hot in Barstow. Hot like when you open the oven door! We did a fast-food lunch stop in Barstow, after a fast gas stop in Kingman, and before a fast gas stop outside Ridgecrest. So you get the idea - lots of driving with minimal stops.
So along the way there was a lot of convective activity in southern California (as well as the FLG area). In particular we ran into a decent cell around Barstow. It generated some strong local winds which did a lot of dust lifting. At the same time there were good-sized cells down around Apple Valley and around Temecula.
And then as we ran up the Owens Valley, we saw very dark storm clouds over the western side of the Sierra, spilling over to the Owens Valley. Up around Big Pine a big cell had just gone east, but all we saw was more evidence of gusty winds - in the form of lots of dust lifting.
Right now (8:15pm), the big question is: Will the skies clear to allow us to see the Perseids Meteor Shower? Right now, it's looking doubtful. Sadness...
Mammatus over the Owens Valley...
Dust lifting in the Owens Valley out ahead of a thundershower...
A rain shaft just east of Bishop...
and a double rainbow over Bishop!
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