SOUTH POLE WEATHER

Month of January 2002 Summary

Temperature:

Average temp............ -26.6°C / -15.9°F

Departure from normal... +1.6°C / +2.9°F

Maximum temp............ -14.8 °C / +5.4°F on day 12

Minimum temp............ -39.2 °C / -38.6°F on day 30

Wind:

Average wind speed.......... 12.6 mph or 10.9 knots

Prevailing wind direction... Grid North or 010 degrees

Maximum wind speed.......... 39 mph or 34 knots on day 12

Maximum wind direction...... Grid North

Average vectored wind....... 024 degrees at 8.6 knots

Station Pressure:

Average pressure........ 687.5 mb or 20.302 in. Hg

Departure from normal... -2.3 mb or -0.068 in. Hg

Highest pressure........ 698.0 mb or 20.612 in. Hg on day 02

Lowest pressure......... 675.2 mb or 19.939 in. Hg on day 26

Physio-altitude:

Average physio-alt = 10347 ft/ 3154 m

Highest physio-alt = 10810 ft/ 3295 m on day 26

Lowest physio-alt = 9956 ft/ 3035 m on day 02

Sky Cover:

Average cloud cover (8ths)... 05

Days clear................... 06

Days partly cloudy........... 14

Days cloudy.................. 11

Sunshine:

Sunset on 20 March 2002

Average hours per day... 15.5

Percent of possible..... 65

Visibility... 2 days with a visibility of 1/4 mile or less.

Snowfall..... Trace; average net change at snow stakes +0.730 inches.

**RECORDS**

Day 4 - The peak wind speed of 27 kt/31 mph tied the previous record set in

1990.

Day 5 - The peak wind speed of 31 kt/36 mph broke the previous record of 22

kt/25 mph set in 1990.

Day 5 - The average wind speed of 20.6 kt/23.7 mph broke the previous record

of 13.8 kt/15.9 mph set in 1994.

Day 6 - The maximum temperature of -18.5C/-1.3F broke the previous record

high of -18.6C/-1.5F set in 1983.

Day 6 - The peak wind speed of 24 kt/28 mph broke the previous record of 21

kt/24 mph set in 1994.

Day 7 - The maximum temperature of -19.1C/-2.4F broke the previous record

high of -19.8C/-3.6F set in 1990.

Day 7 - The peak wind speed of 26 kt/30 mph broke the previous record of 22

kt/25 mph set in 1958.

Day 8 - The peak wind speed of 22 kts/25 mph tied the previous record set in

1988.

Day 11 - The maximum temperature of -18.1C/-0.6F broke the previous record

high of -18.9C/-2.0F set in 1974.

Day 11 - The average wind speed of 21.7 kt/25.0 mph broke the previous

record of 16.8 kt/19.3 mph set in 1986.

Day 11 - The peak wind speed of 32 kt/37 mph broke the previous record of 30

kt/35 mph set in 1986.

Day 13 - The maximum temperature of -18.2C/-0.8F broke the previous record

high of -18.9C/-2.0F set in 1958.

Day 14 - The maximum temperature of -19.2C/-2.6F broke the previous record

high of -19.4C/-2.9F set in 1977.

Day 16 - The average wind speed of 15.5 kt/17.8 mph broke the previous

record of 13.5 kt/15.5 mph set in 1980.

Day 16 - The peak wind speed of 25 kt/29 mph broke the previous record of 23

kt/26 mph set in 1980.

Day 30 - The minimum temperature of -39.2C/-38.6F broke the previous record

low of -39.1C/-38.4F set in 1991.

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