Monday, September 18, 2006

Weather Conditions

There are 3 weather conditions at McMurdo. Condition 3 is our most common condition, and it means that wind speed is less than or equal to 48 knots, visibility is greater than 1/4 mile, and windchill temperature is greater than -75°F. All must be true to be considered Condition 3. And we are almost always in Condition 3.

BUT... today we were in Condition 2 for a couple of hours!! Condition 2 is observed when any one of the following is true: wind speed is greater than 48 knots but less than or equal to 55 knots, or visibility is greater than 100 feet but less than or equal to 1/4 mile, or windchill temperature is greater than -100°F but less than or equal to -75°F. It was so windy that it took me quite a bit longer to walk from building to building.

Now Condition 1 is what the whole base is hoping for. Condition 1 is observed when any one of the following is true: wind speed is greater than 55 knots, or visibility is less than or equal to 100 feet, or windchill temperature is less than or equal to -100°F. If Condition 1 is called while we are at work, we have to immediately report to our supervisor and work is called off until Condition 2 is called. CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO to sample a Condition 1 at McMurdo Station. There have been a few Condition 1's called since I've been here, but they are always on the sea ice or at the runways.

There are a few different ways in which we are told what Condition we are currently in. Most of the dorms have an electronic ticker at the main entrance/exit that tells you only what condition we are in. We can also check the TV or internet. And if you're lucky (or unlucky) enough to have a pager, you get text messages that tell you if conditions change.

Posted by Katie from the Ice @ 10:05 PM