Sudden storm

August 19, 2012

Sunrise: 6:29 am
Sunset: 11: 27 pm
Temps: 11 - 23'C

With warm summer weather (and decreasing quantities of bugs) what better way to enjoy the evening than a lake-side picnic? We gathered some friends and drove 40 km South to Gw'ichin Park at Campbell Lake. It appeared that we weren't the only ones with this brilliant idea - families with young children we out and about, at the picnic tables, on the dock, on the beach and on colourful inflatable flotation devices. People were laughing, eating, drinking...

It came to a head rather suddenly. We had seen some clouds in the distance, but in no time they were upon us, and the wind sprung up in force! The warm sun disappeared, the calm lake was wiped into whitecaps, the rain started and people scrambled for cover.

(In this picture, left, note the guy in the background, leaning unsteadily into the wind. Yes, his sobriety was indeed questionable, but he was doing an admirable job of trying to stay upright. The trees were fairing only slightly better.)

Fortunately for us, our friends had a pick-up with a lovely spacious canopy in the back. We climbed in, battened down the hatches and enjoyed the sudden storm in style.

 
A phenomenal amount of water came down, amidst thunder and lightning. This picture shows the wind, the rain and the rivulets that formed within minutes.

From the safety of the canopy, we enjoyed Mother Nature's onslaught.

It was over as quickly as it started. The rain stopped, the wind died and the lake regained it's placid appearance. We climbed out of the truck, had our picnic and enjoyed the rest of our visit, with the place to ourselves.

We have experienced a number of impressive thunderstorms this summer in Inuvik. The locals say this is unusual, that prior to this year they could count the number of storms they've experienced on their hands.

Climate change?
Perhaps.

Entertaining?
Definitely. I love it!