20 August 2011

Storms over Quito


In the afternoons of the last couple of days, thunderstorms have built up over Quito and the surrounding hills. Yesterday we had a tremendous storm — lightning and thunder every few seconds, and torrential rain that turned to hail and left drifts of hailstones that looked like snow on the footpaths. Today's storm was less violent, but I still wouldn't have wanted to have been caught out in it, particularly high up on the mountains, where we're intending to go tomorrow (Saturday). We'll be making an early start and keeping a close eye on the weather; all going well, we should be at least back to the top of the Teleférico before the afternoon weather turns bad.

A telephoto view from my room.

[9 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/160 at f5.6]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

6 comments:

Barbara Butler McCoy said...

As soon a I saw this I saw myself, in my mind, rolling down that mountain straight into the cloud. As you can tell I've had a ticket on many flights of fancy today!!!

pohanginapete said...

That sounds like quite a flight of fancy, Barbara :^) Nevertheless, I'm hoping we don't see the inside of that cloud tomorrow.

Kiwi Nomad said...

Pete, I am sure you have been told- but you missed quite a storm here at home in Palmy- real snowfall for several hours on Monday evening!

Frances said...

Such reduces me to my pygmy sized human status.

Zhoen said...

Sultry.

pohanginapete said...

Kiwi Nomad, I'd heard about the snow there. As much as I'm enjoying my time here, I'd have liked to have been back to enjoy the event. Much prefer it over bleak, cold rain.

Frances, it does indeed remind one of one's insignificance.

Zhoen, we climbed Rucu Pichincha today, and managed to avoid this kind of weather. We could see it beginning to close in as we were coming off the mountain, though.