Climate of Antarctica

World Climates covers 3 places in Antarctica. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Port-aux-Français (4 °C39 °F) and the coolest is Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory) (−14 °C7 °F). The wettest is Grytviken with 1,093 mm43 in of precipitation per year, the driest Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory) with 364 mm14 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are tundra (ET, 2 places) and ice cap (EF, 1 place).

The highest monthly average high is in Port-aux-Français (9 °C48 °F in February); the lowest monthly average low is in Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory) (−23 °C−9 °F in August).

Temperature and rainfall across Antarctica

Annual mean temperatures in Antarctica range from −14 °C7 °F to 4 °C39 °F. The typical place (the median of all 3) has a year average of 1 °C34 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 364 mm14 in to 1,093 mm43 in. The median place receives about 698 mm27 in in an average year.

In 3 places of 3, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 0 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 3 places, January is the warmest month, with a mean of 2 °C36 °F. August is the coldest, with −7 °C20 °F. The wettest month on average is April (68 mm2.7 in). The driest is October (48 mm1.9 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Port-aux-Français, Grytviken and Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory). Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Climate of each place in Antarctica

Port-aux-Français has a tundra climate (Köppen ET). Its year average is 4 °C39 °F. The warmest month is February, with an average high of 9 °C48 °F. The coldest is July, with an average low of 0 °C31 °F. About 698 mm27 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. No month fully meets our comfort score here.

Grytviken has a tundra climate (Köppen ET). Its year average is 1 °C34 °F. The warmest month is February, with an average high of 5 °C41 °F. The coldest is August, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,093 mm43 in of precipitation falls in a year. March is the wettest month and October the driest. No month fully meets our comfort score here.

Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory) has an ice cap climate (Köppen EF). Its year average is −14 °C7 °F. The warmest month is January, with an average high of −1 °C31 °F. The coldest is August, with an average low of −23 °C−9 °F. About 364 mm14 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and January the driest. No month fully meets our comfort score here.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in Antarctica?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in Antarctica is Port-aux-Français at 4 °C39 °F. The coolest is Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory) at −14 °C7 °F.

Where does it rain the most in Antarctica?

Grytviken gets the most precipitation, 1,093 mm43 in in an average year. The driest place is Casey Station (Australian Antarctic Territory) with 364 mm14 in.

How many places in Antarctica does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 3 places in Antarctica. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.