Meteorological observations carried out aboardMikhail Somovduring her drift provide a wealth of information on this little‐known area of the Antarctic. In particular they throw light on the Ross Sea Low, the deepest cell of atmospheric pressure on earth, and on the traveling cyclones associated with it. The latter result in some of the highest mean monthly wind velocities on earth along the Marie Byrd Coast, reaching 12–13 m/s in some months. Associated with these conditions are high levels of cloud cover and high humidities, making the environment of the Ross Sea one of the most severe oceanic environments in the world. Analysis of the weather data would suggest that an anomalous sequence of three cyclones in a row which approached the Russkaya Station area from the northeast (instead of the more normal direction of northwest) in March 1985 probably contributed to the ice conditions which led toMikhail Somov'sbesetment. The article concludes with a detailed analysis of weather conditions recorded aboardMikhail Somovduring the various sections of her drift.