Last week, Death Valley in California experienced some extraordinary weather phenomena that left park rangers and meteorologists amazed. Over the course of three days, strong winds in the area were able to move a temporary lake, known informally as Lake Manly, two miles north, according to the National Park Service.
Abby Wines, a park ranger at Death Valley National Park, described the event as the lake going on a “walkabout.” The powerful winds, part of a storm system from the Pacific Northwest, started picking up on February 29 and continued to blow between 20 and 33 miles per hour on March 1 and 2. At times, the winds reached speeds of 40 to 50 m.p.h., peaking at 54.8 m.p.h. on March 2.
The winds were strong enough to knock people off balance and even caused minor damage to trees, power lines, utility poles, and buildings in the area. Lake Manly, an ephemeral body of water that forms in the saltwater flats of Badwater Basin, was not spared from the effects of the winds. The shallow lake, which had formed due to recent rainfall, was moved by the strong gusts.
Park ranger Abby Wines witnessed the lake’s movement firsthand, noting that what was once a kayak-launching spot had turned into a salt flat stretching as far as the eye could see. Meteorologist Brian Planz explained that it is not uncommon for strong winds to move bodies of water, citing similar occurrences near Lake Erie and Galveston Bay.
After the lake had migrated two miles north, the Park Service announced that boating would not be allowed on Lake Manly until it refills. By Thursday, the water had drifted back to its original location, albeit with a brown color due to being stirred up by the winds. Ms. Wines expressed hope that the water would eventually settle and return to its blue color with good reflections.
The unusual event left park officials and visitors in awe, with Mike Reynolds, superintendent of Death Valley National Park, remarking on the spectacle of witnessing an entire lake migrate. As the water slowly returns to its original location, the footprints and drag marks left behind by visitors dragging their boats are expected to be visible for years to come.
