According to the National Weather Service, it is a severe winter storm involving heavy or blowing snow that meets these conditions: "Sustained wind or frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph will accompany falling and/or blowing snow to frequently reduce visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three or more hours." They tend to turn visibility to near zero (whiteout), and accumulate snow into enormous drifts. You're not likely to encounter one on Hawaii, but in north Dakota, they happen every year, sometimes several times a year. Blizzards blanket the ground with snow, making shots like this possible: Ok, now that I've completely hijacked your thread, back to your normally scheduled programming.
ROFL Why would anyone live in that environment? LOL Ok. My father was born and raised in ND before they moved to NW Washington. Hawaii even has it's share of snow. A few of us cycle up Mauna Loa once a month and look across to Mauna Kea (White Mountain) which occasionally does have snow.
Your state has peaks that reach 10000 feet, so snow, even in the tropical pacific, is not unheard of. I actually love this state. I can deal with the cold way better than the heat. I can always put more clothes on, but when it's hot, I can't legitimately take enough off!
Thanks Jeff. It’s been really wet here and a hurricane predicted to bring high winds and more rain. My pastime seems to be sifting sand for ballast lately.
Quick update on Hurricane Hector! All safe as it passes the southern end of the island but the rain is catching up and dumping. No damage other than everything is a muddling mess including the dogs and horses. Boots are manditory.
Aloha Neal. Your layout sounds very interesting. I've often thought of a layout based on the islands. Been to the big island several times and it really is a beautiful place. Lush and green on the shores, rolling seas of frozen lava. Don't how one would model that but it sure would be amazing! There is one must tho, you have to have a model of Ken's House of Pancakes!
Olie: I wonder if Joseph Kreiss thought of Ken’s on his Big Island Rail? My interest is c1900 so it was probably a pasture but who knows? An early version might be fun. Above is missing the station and other detail - a work in progress. Thanks!
You are probably right. Ken's was opened in 1971 so too modern for the era you're modeling. All this talk is making me hungry......for pancakes!
Yes! Pancakes! My wife has me on a no sugar, no wheat, no corn syrup, no rice or pasta, and no pancake diet! Once my weight is under control I may be able to convince her to go to Ken’s (she loves the place). Even though it was opened in 1971 there must have been a restaurant there since the whole town of Waimea was built in and around the railroad yard and shops. I’ll post a rr map if interested.
If you remember Hilo (old Waikea actually), the mainline is now Kuawa Street and Lihiwai (far left) is now Manono Street. Kamehameha Avenue and the railroad cross the Wailoa River just above the fish market (Suisan). The leg of the wye crossing Kam (sic) would have been a short block before Ken’s Pancakes and continued to the Port of Hilo. Not all the buildings are shown but Waikea was as developed as Hilo itself - small and dense. Most buildings were lost in the 1946 tidal wave and the rest gone after the larger 1960 Tsunami. The station is now a baseball and football field but we managed to save the flagepole! Above is a portion of the area today (I was advocating for a velodrome).