SOUTH POLE STATION, ANTARCTICA
MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY - FEBRUARY, 2002
Temperature:
Average temp............ -40.5°C / -40.9°F
Departure from normal... +0.4°C / +0.7°F
Maximum temp............ -27.6°C / -17.7°F on day 17
Minimum temp............ -51.9°C / -61.4°F on day 25
Wind:
Average wind speed.......... 12.8 mph or 11.1 knots
Prevailing wind direction... Grid North or 010 degrees
Maximum wind speed.......... 31 mph or 27 knots on day 28
Maximum wind direction...... Grid North
Average vectored wind....... 045 degrees at 8.8 knots
Station Pressure:
Average pressure........ 681.9 mb or 20.137 in. Hg
Departure from normal... -3.8 mb or -0.112 in. Hg
Highest pressure........ 695.8 mb or 20.547 in. Hg on day 17
Lowest pressure......... 670.5 mb or 19.800 in. Hg on day 22
Physio-altitude:
Average physio-alt = 10557 ft/ 3218 m
Highest physio-alt = 10989 ft/ 3349 m on day 22
Lowest physio-alt = 10038 ft/ 3060 m on day 17
Sky Cover:
Average cloud cover (8ths)... 04
Days clear................... 13
Days partly cloudy........... 06
Days cloudy.................. 09
Sunshine:
Sunset on 20 March 2002
Average hours per day... 19.0
Percent of possible..... 79
Visibility... 2 days with a visibility of 1/4 mile or less.
Snowfall..... TRACE; average net change at snow stakes +0.683 inches.
**RECORDS**
Day 15 - The peak wind speed of 26 kt/30 mph broke the previous record of 24
kt/28 mph set in 1992.
Day 15 - The average wind speed of 17.4 kt/20.1 mph broke the previous
record of 16.5 kt/19.0 mph set in 1959.
Day 28 - The peak wind speed of 27 kt/31 mph broke the previous daily record
of 26 kt/30 mph set in 1983.
Day 28 - The average wind speed of 19.6 kt/22.6 mph broke the previous daily
record of 19.1 kt/22.0 mph set in 1963.