Climate of Casey

Temperature

Mean daily maximum temperatures at Casey is around 3 °C in January, but falls quickly away during April to average around -11 °C by May, a value it hovers near right through to September. Mean daily minimum temperatures range from around -3 °C in January to around -18 or -19 °C from May to August.

The highest temperature recorded is 9 °C, in January and the lowest is -41 °C, in July.

Wind

Wind direction is predominantly (more than 40 percent) between north and east, although the stronhgest winds come from just south of east. The mean annual windspeed is about 26 km/h. The windiest month is August while the lightest winds are on average observed in January. The highest gust ever recorded is 291 km/h. Strong winds often cause blowing snow and poor visibility. Wind speeds over 50 km/h occur on over 20 percent of occasions in July and August, and about 10 percent of the time from December to March.

Snow

Snow falls are observed throughout the year, but are more frequent in the colder months. Determining how much snow has fallen and how much has drifted in can be difficult, but snowfall is known to be heavier at Casey than at Davis or Mawson. Most snow accumulation is a result of drift snow blown from Law Dome, between March and October.

Sea Ice

The extent of pack ice in September off Casey reaches, with a frequency of less than one year in five, as far north as latitude 54 °S. Unlike Davis and Mawson, fast ice does not form near Casey in winter.

Last updated on 22 June 2004