The Storm, Dust storm of 2007 Options

[OWW]

Oh no...This is getting bad:

The new and potentially bleak outlook is a stark shift from the prognosis earlier this week.

The dusty squall has reduced direct sunlight to Mars' surface by nearly 99 percent, an unprecedented threat for the solar-powered robotic explorers. If the storm keeps up and thickens with even more dust, officials fear the rovers' batteries may empty and silence the robotic explorers forever.

Opportunity's energy-gathering ability has been slashed to a dangerous 280 watt-hours-enough power to light only three 90-watt light bulbs.

"The worst-case scenario is that enough dust in the sky decreases solar energy to the point that we have to shut down too many things to save power," Lemmon said. "The rovers keep their battery alive by keeping their electronics alive."

"The reality of the situation is that we're limited as to what we can do from the ground by cutting power use," Callas said. "If it continues to worsen and stay that way, it's a survivability issue for Opportunity. If Mars wants to kill the rovers, it can."

http://www.space.com/news/070705_dusty_rovers.html

[OWW]

According to this report on space.com the dust storm is still spreading.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070711_mars_dust.html
and
http://themis.asu.edu/dustmaps/

The enormous dust storm raging across Mars' southern half has begun to creep into the northern hemisphere as well, new satellite images reveal.

"This storm isn't as big or severe as the one in 2001," Bandfield said. "THEMIS and other orbiters can still see the surface, despite the continuing dust activity."

It's uncertain how long the current storm will last, but it probably won't disappear as quickly as it began. "Mars will remain dusty for at least a couple more months," Bandfield predicts.

Sounds like the rovers will remain power-starved for a Long time.