DANGEROUS WINDS - BAJA ROAD

"We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds."
(From a rich old Greek who knew a bit about ships and 'storms'.)

Yesterday a friend and I caravaned down the The Baja Road from San Diego - Tecate - Mulege - Coyote Bay.

It was WINDY...to say the least.

EXTREMELY HIGH WINDS - DANGEROUS FOR HIGH SIDED VEHICLES (NNE-ENE)


The winds started early Monday and did not let up the entire 2-day trip.

If you are considering travel in a high-sided vehicle, I would advise you to consider holding off until the wind subsides. At this moment (4:00 a.m.) the wind has dropped off in the Mulege area, but just a word of caution if you are driving north or south. CHECK WIND CONDITIONS FIRST.

Here is one southbound high-sided semi-truck that was blown over a few miles south of Lake Chapala. Forgive the poor quality of the photo, but it's the best I could provide under the circumstances. A tow truck and a fellow trucker were on the site, so the rollover had happened some time before we came along.




This is a very windy valley in the mountains...like a funnel. Watch for those places for gusting winds. You get so you can judge where the gusts will be the worst. Naturally, a crosswind will be your worst enemy.




I was driving my Southwind...every second!

Here mi amigo, Macyman of Mulege, struggles forward into the gale to secure a loose roof hatch...during 60mph gusts. No place for a hat or a pipe.











Going east from Guerrero Negro ...the flat desert offers no barrier to the north winds.


Viscaino. Actually this is kind of a typical weather for this area of Baja. Winters are always very windy here...and dusty.






The Sea of Cortez has no pangas out today. Shores north of Sta. Rosalia.



Fierce onshore winds make some palms into wind socks at Motel El Morro in Sta. Rosalia.

USE EXTREME CAUTION AND CHECK WIND FORECASTS FOR THE BAJA ROAD.







[Edited on 12-7-2011 by Pompano]

Looks like Thursday is the first day we may be able to get out again. Hope the fish have had trouble finding bait during the winds and are hungry.

Yes we were in Catavina on Sunday and a Funnell cloud touched down and picked a child and his dad slaming them into the ground.No death but Dad took a blow to the head and the little boy tramitized

Keep this site close for checking winds..

http://www.windalert.com/en-us/Search/SpotInfo.aspx?spotid=1... this Station on WindAlert!&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=iwindsurf.com&utm_campaign=widgetForecastTable

Looks alot safer later this week....

Edit: I should metion to scroll down to "Oberservations/ Forcasts, and click on "Forcasts"...

[Edited on 12-7-2011 by LaTijereta]

On Aug 18th, 2011 we got a quick storm at the El Burro palapa. My picture isn't as good as yours but a sailboat that was anchored out front had his hands full. After the storm subsided he rowed a dingy into shore looking for chairs etc that had blown off the boat!!