Crying Wolf?

Fosdicks is famous for the weather. The Great Storm of 2006 as
previously mentioned is infamous at Mcurdo and most people who have
worked with the program since have heard of it. Stories have been
recounted, exaggerated and told many times. The forecast at the time
was for 50-60 knots and they were getting gusts of more like 120 knots.
Fully loaded and fuelled skidoos weighing 400kg were blown across the
snow, tents were damaged or destroyed and things got hairy-scary.

After recent experience of the forecasts, we're wondering whether the
Fosdicks are starting to Cry Wolf. "You should experience 30-35 knots of
wind" turns into 13-15 knots. Today, forecast was 40-50 but we're
getting up to 20 max so far. The forecast this morning for Sunday is
for it to blow up to 75 knots - that's more than 80mph. If it doesn't
happen again and we only get 30 will we start to ignore the forecast?

Perhaps the Fosdicks are playing a game, who knows? Perhaps the
forecasters are nervous from the 2006 experience and always overestimate
so we are always prepared? (although the thought of a nice 50 knot blow
is mischievously exciting in some ways...) Perhaps our planned position
in a sheltered spot is actually reducing the winds at camp a lot? Who knows.

Only one way to find out, "Hurry up and wait" That's what we'll do.

Hurry up and wait...