“Nature uncovers the inner secrets of nature in two ways: one by the force of bodies operating outside it; the other by the very movements of its innards. The external actions are strong winds, rains, river currents, sea waves, ice, forest fires, floods; there is only one internal force – earthquake.”

        ~ Mikhail Lomonosov, 18th Century Russian scientist,
geologist, astronomer & poet

Over the past week, the weather has been mild and calm. In stark comparison, Mother Nature turned both harsh and turbulent in her other realms. Usually the word “nature” conjures up images of tranquil beauty and new life. A destructive and frightening earthquake doesn’t quite fit that definition. The loss of a family’s furry friend doesn’t either.

Last Friday, the Ridgecrest desert region was rocked by a 7.1-magnitude temblor – the most powerful quake to hit Southern California in two decades. Just one day prior, on the 4th of July, a 6.4-magnitude tremor hit the same area. A swarm of less powerful aftershocks followed. Fascinatingly, these quakes have created a crack in the planet’s crust that’s visible from space. Images taken by tiny Earth-observing Dove satellites, from the San Francisco-based company Planet, show this new surface rupture in Ridgecrest, about 125 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The width allowed an upwelling of sediment and water from beneath the surface. The size was also indicated in photos taken of people with arms or legs extended into the crack. Apparently any good sense fell into the depth as well!

Thankfully, the overall damage didn’t match the quakes’ magnitudes.

Closer to home, in the midst of all the shaking, the Kilpatrick family said goodbye to their much-loved golden retriever Abby. She succumbed to an aggressive form of lung cancer, not uncommon to the breed. I have often made mention of her in Weather in the Foothills. She also made an appearance several times, riding along with the CV Weekly folks, in the Montrose Christmas Parade. Thank you, Robin, for making room for Abby.

Now, back to the weather…

Here comes the sun! Extremely hot temperatures are predicted starting tomorrow, Friday, that continue through early next week. Triple-digit temperatures in the valleys are expected before falling back down to within a few degrees of normal on Wednesday. A cooling trend is then expected to extend into the following weekend with highs a few degrees below normal.

“May the sun shine warm upon your face until we meet again…” Gaelic Blessing

Sue Kilpatrick is a Crescenta Valley resident and  Official Skywarn
Spotter for the National Weather Service. Reach her at suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick