Forest Fires II

The Southland has been host of many forest fires. Notable ones are the great Monrovia Peak fire of 1925, Verdugo Mountains completely burned in 1955, and the Big Tujunga Canyon fire in 1975. More recent was in October 2003 where a good 1.5 million acres en total may have burned. The whole frontal range of the San Bernardino Mountains devastated. Some respectable fires in the past 5 years as well. Where population increases, there's also responsibility of each individual to contribute to the much greater whole. Otherwise, "pockets" or disharmony will result. Although some fires man made, Nature occasionally has a hand in starting the fires. Lightning storms can immediately spur a pretty large fire. Winds will spread it to the tune of 50 MPH at times. Some plant species need these fires periodically to reproduce and propagate their species. The downside of large fires is that, if there's a heavy rain season, much erosion may occur. It takes years for the flora to come back after a fire.

Forest Fires I

Some examples...the chaparral in the Southland is like a tinder box. The slightest smoldering cigarette could light up a blazing inferno. Use of BBQs and matches and lighters or electrical should be given careful consideration before use in brushy areas.

Lightning Pics II

More examples of lightning. Sometimes it goes horizontally as well as vertically.

Severe Weather VII

Some examples of nasty winter weather. A year and a half ago...there was 10 feet of snow up around Vermont and New Hampshire. Temperatures can get well below zero. Best to prepare + back ups to not freeze to death. The wind chill factor makes this even worse. Note the downed powerlines.

Smoking cessation pics

A blooper...here they are.

Smoking cessation pics

Some more examples and feeder material for this addiction which some call "the great hoax."

the 50s smoking doctor

An example of the reversal of sub mini cultures amongst the dominant elite culture. Here's a picture of a doctor smoking. One could smoke everywhere and nowadays the reverse is happening with the do gooders.

Older tornadoe pics

Some of these from the early 1900s to 1950s. Included is a great snap shot of a thunderhead with active lightning.

Lightning Pics

With thunder and lightning best to go indoors or avoid being in exposed areas...people are 70% water and conductive to electric shock. Lightning has hit whole herds of animals and each one "schocked" each other and say a 100 sheep perished together. The lag time between the lightning and thunder can also be used to find the distance of the thunderhead from the person...each second may be 1000 feet. Often severe rain and/or hail will come down soon after the first few sounds of thunder.

Thunderheads

A few examples...often these seen in the summer in the Southland particularly August. An occasional thunder/lightning storm will come through. Usually no heavy rain like in some of the "desert monsoons."

Severe Weather VI

Some examples of hurricane and tornado damage. The warped bridge was done by tornado. The naked church was the Galveston Hurricane. The shopping mall and schoolhouse with a third of it blown away is by tornado.

"Blue" lightning

Couple of examples. In the Southland on some summers you'll see a green, tourquoise or blue colored lightning. In the summer of 1998, this going on above Glendale.

Severe Weather V

Some examples of Katrina a category 5 hurricane. Often winds around 175MPH and severe rain. Included is the storm's eyewall a beautiful sight. Other large ones were hurricane Andrew and Camille in 1969.

Severe Weather IV

Some examples of what might be "f5" tornadoes. These have circular winds to over 300 MPH and can uproot and move whole houses maybe a mile or so away. Accompanying the wind may be severe lightning, thunder and/or large hail. Sometimes "twins" or "triplets" descend from several thousand feet above.