The part of the Simpson Desert we in was a big area and most of it is around 80' below sea level. The huge dust storms would come off the salt lakes, the famous one is Lake Lyre. The pilots hated going below sea level. It just freaked them out.
Every 2 weeks we would get a huge dust storm. The temp would peak at around 50's but this is only a guide. The longer it took for the dust storm to happen made the temp go stupid, go real high.
We waited 5 weeks one time for the dust storm to come. It took all of mid summer. Every crew change twice a week would have 6 new people and 6 new people going back home. The last night before the dust storm was 45c or 113f at midnight. It peaked at 64c or 147f next day. Out of 55 men only me and another guy, the biggest man I have very seen. He had to turn sideways to get through the doorways. Were the only 2 left standing. All the rest were in aircon that got the temp to a cool 45c lol lol. Then the dust storm hit us next night as we were walking to the rig for shift change. None of us knew it was happening as they normally come in daylight hours. The wind hit us lifted all off the ground the flung us backwards at a great pace. I stopped about 4km or 3miles next to the only small bush per square 1km and remember thinking if anything lives out here it is where I am.
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