Condition One!!

After spending eleven months in Antarctica, I finally got to experience my first Condition One! Yesterday a storm blew in from the east and by evening, it had turned into a blizzard with practically no visibility and super gusty winds. I didn't sleep very well because the winds outside were so loud, as if a train were driving by all night right next to the building. This morning when I went to breakfast, I couldn't see Building 155 (the main building that houses some living quarters and the dining room) from my dorm, and it's only a couple hundred feet away if that far. There is a ropeline that connects the two dorms (208 and 209) with 155. To go from one building to the next, we have to travel in at least groups of two along the ropeline, call the firehouse before we leave, and check in with the firehouse when we get to the building we're going to. Here are the definitions of conditions one, two, and three followed by a few photos and video from this weekend.


Condition THREE is observed when ALL of the following are true:

• Wind speed is less than or equal to 48 knots
• Visibility is greater than 1/4 mile
• Windchill temperature is greater than -75°F.

Condition TWO 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
• Visibility is greater than 100 feet but less than or equal to 1/4 mile
• Windchill temperature is greater than -100°F but less than or equal to -75°F.

Condition ONE is observed when ANY ONE of the following is true:

• Wind speed is greater than 55 knots
• Visibility is less than or equal to 100 feet
• Windchill temperature is less than or equal to -100°F.

The weather page from the McMurdo intranet announcing Condition One on station.

Brooks, Craig, and me hang out during the storm since the bar and coffee house were closed because of the weather.

This picture was taken this morning from the vestibule of my dorm as I left to go to brunch.  If it's this bad from inside, you can imagine what it's like outside. :)