Here are the basics on Antarctic Weather. McMurdo Station breaks the weather conditions down by a Weather Danger Classification Scale that is summarized by a scale of 3 conditions.
Condition 3 (everything is cool) – must meet all of the following criteria:
Visibility is either greater than 1⁄4 mile (400 m), or it falls to 1⁄4 mile or less for less than one minute at a time. Windspeed is either below 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph), or it reaches 48 knots or above for less than one minute at a time. Air temperature and wind chill are either above −75 °F (−59 °C), or falls to −75 °F or below for less than one minute at a time.
Condition 2 (kinda dicey) – must meet all of the following criteria:
Visibility is either greater than or equal to 100 feet (30 m), or it falls below 100 feet for less than one minute at a time. Windspeed is either less than or equal to 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph), or it exceeds 55 knots for less than one minute at a time. Air temperature and wind chill are either −100 °F (−73 °C) or above, or falls below −100 °F for less than one minute at a time. And also must meet one or more of the following criteria: Visibility is less than or equal to 1⁄4 mile (400 m), sustained for one minute or longer. Windspeed greater than 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph), sustained for one minute or longer Air temperature and/or wind chill of −75 °F (−59 °C) or below, sustained for one minute or longer.
Condition 1 (you have angered Antarctica) – must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Visibility less than 100 feet (30 m), sustained for one minute or longer. Windspeed over 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph), sustained for one minute or longer. Air temperature and/or wind chill below −100 °F (−73 °C), sustained for one minute or longer. Your movement will be restricted by the weather conditions. For example, in condition 1 you are pretty much staying inside. So far I have been here and seen condition 3 and 2. Look back at the description of condition 2 and remember that I am here in the middle of the Antarctic summer. I have no desire to see condition 1.
A live feed weather map in the Crary Science and Engineering Building
One big thing to remember is that the weather conditions can change very rapidly. It might be very clear in the morning and by the afternoon you are down to visibility of a couple hundred feet. So you need to bring gear that will keep you safe no matter what comes. Dressing in layers is important. You want to be able to shed layers to keep from sweating. Moisture against your skin is bad news, so you need a wicking layer (a fabric that moves moisture away from your skin) underneath your insulating layer. Cotton is a really bad idea, it loses its insulating properties when it gets wet, and worse it will hold moisture against your skin. You also need a layer that stops the wind. The wind here is like no place else on Earth. It is fast, will come in gusts out of nowhere, and it can be transporting much colder air. I thought Michigan had cold weather and for the bulk of my stay down here the temperatures have been above what they are at home, but the last couple of days I've gotten hints of what this continent is capable of.
I took this right outside the CosRay building. Everything is clear. Condition 3.
I took this right outside the CosRay building about 20 minutes later. It's starting to look like weather. Still Condition 3.
I took this right outside the CosRay building about 15 minutes after that. My camera wouldn't focus past the shed. Still Condition 3.
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