And the Sky Turned Black

I got to witness some amazing weather yesterday while I was driving home from a task on the eastern side of the valley. The weather all day had been sunny with just a little wind. Just before I was leaving for home, the wind kicked up (in good Ellensburg style!) and the air got noticeably cooler. About half way across the valley, the leading edge of a huge storm cell crossed over the western mountains. There was a distinct line between the clear blue sky and the black, lightning-filled sky. It almost had an apocalyptic appearance. The lightning was incredible! Big, bright and often, the forked lightning struck at the mountain ridges around my home. When these storms come breezing through, there is a distinctive smell that accompanies them. I suppose that it is mix of the charge in the air and the rain mixing with the thousands of acres of dust and bare dirt. It was quite a sight.