Krazy Khost Weather

Looking for that perfect Memorial Day vacation spot? Do you want strong sun, unpredictable storms and incredibly starry nights, without the crowds or bodies of water nearby? Then brother, have I got a deal for you! While not as scorching as Jalalabad, Khost is also quite a toasty place by mid-May, and surprisingly humid. And with that comes almost-daily thunderstorms...

The storms here take on some different characteristics from most t-storms I remember from home, especially when they approach. Lightning is often pulsating rapidly around the sky, putting any strobe light show to shame with its random but constant flashes and glows. Thunder is usually a steadily rolling rumble, without pause...then it all comes sweeping in, and the place just gets totally lit up with whipping wind, deafening crashes, and even hail. The baseball-sized hail we got pounded by the other night did a lot of damage, in fact...even the guys I talked to from the plains states and the southeast said it was some of the biggest they've ever seen...

OK, no making fun of my lame attempts to capture lightning in these pictures! I spent a half-hour out in one recent storm with my old digital camera, hoping that by the time it finished its tedious process of taking one photo, it would yield me a rare full lightning bolt, or something close to it. Alas, this is all I've got. Ansel Adams' descendants have nothing to fear - I won't be taking away their steady flow of income anytime soon.

Here is some of the driving rain that showed up to greet me the first afternoon I spent back in Khost. At the time, I thought that was a kick-ass storm (this was before the hailstorm), and was surprised the tent didn't break apart in it. Yep, I managed to return while my "hardshell" accomodations were being covered in flooring, so we were in tents...but I think the real reason was that they wanted the Marine to feel at home.

Speaking of which, I did embellish with a bit of blarney my recent postings: I am not the only Marine in the east (and by that I mean east of Bagram/Kabul, Shannon!), but I am sure as hell the only one on this large FOB, and that makes me enough of a curiosity. And a badass, of course. A badass crouching down to photograph standing water all over the place...

I know what you're thinking now...AfghaniDan, didn't you already post photos of this same place in a post-rain flood? And the answer is...quit asking me questions, I don't have time for them. I have indeed, but you've got to understand - I don't remember what open water looks like! For a dude who's lived near ocean his whole life, I had to stop and stare at a large rain pond the other day because the wind was creating little ripples on it. This place is seriously landlocked.

Some tents did show more wear-and-tear than others. Maybe post-rainstorm is just one of the only times I think to bring my camera as I walk around the base...that could partly account for my obvious fascination with giant puddles.

So back to the hailstorm - I had to actually wonder for a few seconds what in God's name was making such a racket on the roof (my internal thinking voice is patterned on Fred Mertz and other classic grouchy old men). A product of the great northeast, I was pretty unfamiliar with the stuff. So naturally when I stepped outside to pick up a couple of them, I got whacked in the head a couple of times. Lesson learned: large ice rocks falling from clouds tend to hurt.

Again, I was absolutely mesmerized by moving water. But there may have been another downside beyond just mud. I don't know if additional water made the shit pond stench stronger or not, but that mid-afternoon breeze has been FIERCE. The kind of smell that jacks you up against the wall, takes your money and kicks you a few times in the family jewels, you know?

Then it was moving day...again (that's my buddy Todd getting ready to haul his hope chest inside). Hey, I'm not complaining! My appreciation for the accomodations here is unsurpassed- anyone who bitches about conditions here gets a good lecture about the hard livin' elsewhere from me. It just makes me laugh that whether in civilian life or military, I am simply always moving. I have too many family members and friends who can attest to that - I love you guys, and will need your help again in August...cool?