Condition 1

I'm still in McMurdo. I feel fortunate that I got here when I did because the weather has been bad and no flights have come in from New Zealand yet this week. They are going to try to get a flight in late today because there is a small window of decent weather before the next storm.
Antarctica is known for extreme weather. The normal weather condition is Condition 3. Condition 2 weather means that people have to travel in pairs between buildings and cannot leave the station on foot. During Condition 1, which is defined as less than 100 feet of visibility or more than 55 knot winds, or wind chill less than -100 degrees F, people are not allowed to leave the building that they are in. Last night it was Condition 2 in McMurdo and then it went to Condition 1 around 11:30 PM. The "herbie lights" were on to warn people of the dangerous situation. Snow was flying. Visibility was poor. As you can see from this picture of the NSF Chalet, the snow was not falling down, but flying up. It's Condition 3 again this morning, so life returns to normal.

I'm still waiting for "Condition 4" which is the unofficial term for weather that is too nice to be inside, time to go out and play.