Black Snow: It Really Happens!
Well, at least that’s what they call it! And it is black and it does float down from the sky, just like snow. So why not call it “black snow?”
Actually, it is residue from the burning of sugarcane fields, possibly 10-12 miles from us. The residue which falls here is charred pieces of leaves. The pieces vary from barely visible to two inches long. They are extremely light, so drift with the slightest breeze.
Basically, we just ignore it and hope not much gets inside the trailer. I suspect my white pickup will show noticeable evidence of black snow tomorrow morning, however.
Burning Sugarcane Fields Dangerous to Some
The sugarcane fields I’ve seen here are right along and within a mile of the Rio Grande. From a distance, the fields look very much like cornfields in Iowa.
They look like a good place to hide! And, in fact, some recent arrivals to the USA do exactly that!
Sadly, a few years ago some people died when the fields were burned. Now, beginning a few days before the fields are scheduled to be burned, a vehicle with a loudspeaker drives around the field, broadcasting the up-coming fire. Apparently it works; at least there have been no deaths due to the process the last two years.