The climate of South Pole (Antarctica)
The South Pole is the most southerly located tip on earth. It is
located diametrically opposite the North Pole, the northernmost
point on the earth. The South Pole is located on the continent of
Antarctica which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the South
Pole. Amundsen-Scott research station is situated on the South Pole.
This base is home to 50-200 people on average. Unique for the South
Pole is that a year actually consists of one long day and one long
night. From 21 March the sun sets and does not rise again till 23
September, after which it doesn’t set again for six months. The
South Pole has an ice climate (type EF according to the Köppen
climate classification) in its most extreme form. This is the
coldest place on earth. The average annual temperature is almost -50
degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit) which makes it very hard to
live here. During the dark months there is even no transportation
possible between the station and the rest of the world. During this
period the 50 people that stay here are completely isolated from the
rest of the world. Not only is it extremely cold on the South Pole,
it is also extremely dry here. Almost all of the moisture in the air
freezes and falls down in the form of small snowflakes. In total,
only a few centimeters of annual snowfall can be recorded. This
region can be seen as the coldest desert in the world with immense
ice plains instead of sand.
Climate information
The figures below are based on long term weather and climate records.
They are an average for South Pole:
average maximum
temperature (°C)
average
minimum
temperature (°C)
average
hours of sunshine
per day
average days with
precipitation
per month
average
mm precipitation
per month
average
sea
temperature (°C)
January
-26
-29
18
0
n/a
February
-38
-43
17
0
n/a
March
-51
-57
7
0
n/a
April
-53
-61
0
0
n/a
May
-53
-62
0
0
n/a
June
-54
-62
0
0
n/a
July
-56
-63
0
0
n/a
August
-56
-63
0
0
n/a
September
-56
-63
2
0
n/a
October
-48
-54
14
0
n/a
November
-37
-40
20
0
n/a
December
-26
-29
19
0
n/a
= 0-5 mm ●
= 6-30 mm ●
= 31-60 mm ●
= 61-100 mm ●
= 101-200 mm ●
=
over 200 mm = 0-2 inches ●
= 2-12 inches ●
= 12-24 inches ●
= 25-40 inches ●
= 41-80 inches ●
= over 80 inches
More climate information
Climate figures are very useful but don’t present a general impression
of the climate and the eventual weather circumstances within a certain
period. The figures don’t always reflect the chance of wintry weather,
extreme heat or hurricanes. That is why we offer useful extra climate
information for each month of the year:
Disclaimer
The information at this site was carefully composed from climate data collected by meteorological services, meteorological offices, climate experts and other sources. “More climate info” is based on statistics, climate data and personal experience. No rights can be derived from this site. Weather has no memory and gives no guaranties. Nothing is as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. The authors of this site feel in no way responsible for any damages caused by misinterpretation or other circumstances that may influence your holiday or trip to a certain destination. We provide information, it’s up to the reader to use it to it’s benefit.
this site in Dutch
= 0-5 mm ●
= 6-30 mm ●
= 31-60 mm ●
= 61-100 mm ●
= 101-200 mm ●
=
over 200 mm
