Stormy Weather on Mount Erebus

Like many places, the weather on Mt. Erebus can change unexpectedly. When the weather is calm, working outside can feel like a autumn day in New Mexico. When the weather is bad, you would rather not be outside at all. However, given the remoteness and extreme conditions of the Mt. Erebus summit, a storm can mean much more than spending an uncomfortable night in a mountain tent; several storms have had wind speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour, temperatures of less than minus 25 Fahrenheit and visibilities of less than 10 feet. Fortunately, no one has ever been seriously injured by inclement weather on Mt. Erebus.

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Buckets on head to simulate whiteout conditions (at Happy Camper School).
 Ominous clouds/plume over the Mt. Erebus summit crater.
 Cloud cap forming over Mt. Erebus.
Buckets on head to simulate whiteout conditions (at Happy Camper School).
Ominous clouds/plume over the Mt. Erebus summit crater.
Cloud cap forming over Mt. Erebus.
Lenticular clouds forming over the summit of Mt. Erebus.
 Why we don't like lenticular clouds forming over Erebus (trip to the hut with the bathroom in it).
 Hang on! It's windy out there.
Lenticular clouds forming over the summit of Mt. Erebus.
Why we don't like lenticular clouds forming over Erebus (trip to the hut with the bathroom in it).
Hang on! It's windy out there.
During one storm: 62 mph winds = -82 wind chill.
 Hut slumber party during a really bad storm.
 Rich Esser prepares for travel to the other hut (during a storm).
During one storm: 62 mph winds = -82 wind chill.
Hut slumber party during a really bad storm.
Rich Esser prepares for travel to the other hut (during a storm).
Getting bundled up for a expedition to the bathroom.
 Jeff Johnson after running from his tent to the hut during a storm.
 Phil Kyle after venturing out during a storm at the Lower Erebus Hut.
Getting bundled up for a expedition to the bathroom.
Jeff Johnson after running from his tent to the hut during a storm.
Phil Kyle after venturing out during a storm at the Lower Erebus Hut.
During a bad storm, some sleep in the hut (tents were not standing up well).
 Cramped sleeping quarters when mountain tents can't take the punishment of an Erebus storm.
 Rich Esser chooses to sleep in the hut garage when the wind picks up.
During a bad storm, some sleep in the hut (tents were not standing up well).
Cramped sleeping quarters when mountain tents can't take the punishment of an Erebus storm.
Rich Esser chooses to sleep in the hut garage when the wind picks up.

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Mt. Erebus Volcano Observatory
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology