Thursday, May 21, 2009

SkyWatch Friday #45 ~ Chaos

Friday afternoon a 'Southeaster' blew up with sustained winds overnight of 100 kph (60 mph). The strait of water that seperates Haida Gwaii from the mainland of British Columbia is considered one of the four most dangerous pieces of water in the world when she is not happy....her name is Hecate meaning chaos among other things and she was not happy!

The Hecate is shallow, 80 to 300 ft.(24 to 92 m.) with a sandbar bottom and twice daily tides of up to 24 ft (7.4 m.) flooding and ebbing from the north and the south. A 'southeaster' can start like the flip of the switch and the strait is in chaos almost immediately. The winds blew all night Friday and were still blowing Saturday morning when we took our first walk on the beach. The walk did not last long, when you walked into the wind it was like an exfoliation treatment and it hurt!
The sea is beautiful when she is in chaos and you are on shore!

Second walk of the day, the winds were still blowing but the sky was starting to clear.

There was no rain with this storm but the winds were so strong that they blew the tops off waves and created a shore line mist. The sky was getting lighter.

The gulls were in their glory on the wind.

We walked with our back to the wind on the beach and retreated to the dunes and tree line for the walk home. As you can see the trees are anchored to cope with the Southeaster.

After super the winds settled and our third walk was more pleasureable. The sea and sky were still in chaos.

The clouds streaked across the sky as if chasing the winds.

And everytime you looked up the colours were more striking and dramatic.


As the skies cleared to the east the sea reflected its beauty.

To the north the chaos was settling. These photographs were taken all on the same day on the same beach.
Click on the photographs for some great detail.
For more beautiful skies from around the world why not join us at SkyWatch Friday.

26 comments:

Janie said...

Beautiful seas and sky even when they're angry. Interesting to learn about your southeasters. Must be a terrible hazard for boats in the area when the storm begins suddenly.

Tara R. said...

Lovely set. The sky is amazing. I live in a hurricane prone area, this kind of weather looks familiar.

Linda said...

The power of the wind and waves really comes across. I've never seen a mist created by the foam from waves before. And those ever-changing skies are stunning.

Glennis said...

Wow you have captured the storm with all it beauty and power. I have lived in places where storms rolled in from the ocean, this is what it looked like at such a time.

BLS said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. The Totem pole here isn't Maori its North American. I'll try to get a photo for My World Tuesday when the sun comes out.This looks like a beautiful unspoiled beach in any weather.

Pearl Maple said...

Great collection of photos for Sky Watch Friday. Looks like a few of us are having some wild weather.

You got me with the driftwood photo, mother nature can do some beautiful things at times.

Thanks for your kind comments on my blog and thanks for sharing with Sky Watch Friday.

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

Gorgeous set. I love the colors and storminess.

Gennasus said...

Brrrr! Chilly loooking skies with you.

Esther Garvi said...

Beautiful and full of action, but I'm glad not be on a boat on this particular day!!

Love your captures!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Wow, that is some beautiful sea during the storm.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carolyn: What a neat story of the varible sky, I loved the photo with the tree on the cliff.

VioletSky said...

Oh, she was certainly foaming...!
Thanks for battling the 'exfoliation' treatment for us.

Anonymous said...

Wow, such dramatic weather!
Not sure I would have braved a walk in all that wind, but I did enjoy the pics of your walks.

Anonymous said...

You are dedicated! Three times out in that weather! What wonderful rewards you recived for your efforts. Those were beautiful captures. I had a difficult time choosing a favorite (why did I even feel the need?!!), but I decided I loved the mist blowing off the ocean. What an incredible place to live. :)

ms toast burner said...

Wonderful post!

Your ability to get such clear photos in such wind is admirable!

Deborah Godin said...

I feel very nearly as exhilirated viewing your photos and reading your narration as if I'd been there! Just a stunning series. And is the Hecate name taken from the Greek?

Anonymous said...

Great set of photos. Love the beach on a day like that.

chrome3d said...

Huh huh, some fresh sea air was transmitting from there. Lovely brooding chaotic skies.

SandyCarlson said...

Those are fierce seas. What a sky, too. You are brave to weather the beach. Beautiful, though.

Barry said...

Gorgeous photos of a deadly sea. Glad you were safely on the beach to take them!hotchi

Anonymous said...

Wow! All I can say is that beaches are definitely better during or just after a storm! Fabulous shots - you've really captured the chaos and wildness of the place.

Tom said...

What a truely wonderful place to walk.. I could really use such a walkas this at the moment.. I bet it was so refreshing. The drift wood around there must be very good.

Rune said...

The sky is amazing :o)

Arija said...

Wonderful day on the beach and the weather just the way I like it, nice and blowy.

Arija said...

Wonderful day on the beach and the weather just the way I like it, nice and blowy.

Tammie Lee said...

Such a moving series of stormy photos.

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