A brief summary of the day

McMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA Today's weather forecast:

-25°C|-13°F Max Temperature -56°C|-68.8°F Min Wind Chill

Skies: Cloudy Visibility (miles): 1-3 in light snow and blowing snow Winds (knots): E 15-20 gusts

Today's Clothing Choices:

Two pair long johns
wool t-shirt
wool quarter zip pullover
insulated pullover
thickest wool socks
insulated carhartt overalls
windfleece hat
windfleece neck gator
fleece gator
knitted wool hat
goggles
hooded down coat
down mittens

End of the Day

McMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA

The sun crested the hill for the first time today, filling the early afternoon with light and shadows. The ambient temperature is above 0 F for the first time in days, though the wind chill still dips below -15 F. It certainly is an improvement over the blowing snow and 60 knot winds of tuesday though, whose windchill dropped below -50 F, making even the tiniest patch of exposed skin on my face absolutely miserable. 

On Tuesday, a Condition One looked likely, a weather status that reflects high winds or poor visibility, and restricts movement outdoors. Not wanting to get stuck at work, we headed home early, through the blowing snow, picking our way across roads by memory and the faintest of landmarks. We struggled to keep our feet as the crosswinds nearly knocked us over. 

Today, on the other hand, I walked to lunch after leaving the gym, my face and neck exposed, the polar breeze cooling my sweaty skin. Now at the end of the day, I sit overlooking the Transantarctic mountains, the faint remnants of the sun glowing on the horizon to the north. Farther south, a swath of purple clouds hangs low over the mountains, and I can just make out a single seal lounging by the Big John Crack, my first wildlife of the season. With every passing minute, the light changes, and the town slowly descends into the dusky gray of twilight. 

When I arrived at McMurdo less than three weeks ago, darkness descended well before the end of the work day, and night lasted well past breakfast. The light changes quickly. In another few weeks, we will be into 24 hours of daylight. Though the increasing sunshine is good for the morale, I am already nostalgic for the disappearing darkness. The stillness of the cold polar night is a blanket I am reluctant to relinquish.