From: John C.
Bickel, Ph. D. [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday,
April 16, 2002 8:03 PM
Subject: Weather
in Texas
Hi Neal,
My family and I
live in Plainview, Texas where the view is just like the
name. We are out here in plain view of every thing coming and
going. In
other words it is
about as flat as the ocean. Our annual rainfall averages
about 20 inches, if we are lucky. Some times more and often less.
The weather is fairly dry for most of the year. Now we are in the
rainy
season and also
tornado, and sandstorm season.
About the only
thing that the weathermen can predict with any accuracy is
that the wind will blow. The wind can blow for several days,
especially
when there is a strong area of cold air to the north or northeast.
I grew up in Muleshoe, Texas which is about 60 miles west of
Plainview. I
remember being in
the fourth grade and there were very strong winds and big
sandstorms. However, the sand blowing did not stop us from playing
outside
during recess periods. The sky would turn red with the sand. The
sand
would fill the air
like a cloud and we could see it moving along like a
cloud about 12 feet above our heads. We would unzip our coats and pull
the
bottom of our coats up above the backs or our heads like a sail. Then
we
would be pushed along like a sailboat. This was really fun to do when
we
would rollerskate.
I can't imagine playing outside in a sandstorm now. The sand does not
blow
near as much now
since a lot of the open land has been planted to grass
pastures. The farmers have learned to practice better soil
conservation so
their fields do
not blow and they can save all the water possible.