Antarctica Weather

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What is the Weather like in Antarctica?

Tours to Antarctica only run during the summer (November to March). After that, the sun is extinguished, the ice pack spreads outward, and a kind of primeval darkness settles over the region, like an impenetrable mantle that only lifts in late September. It’s during this time that temperatures are at their most inhospitable: lows of -80 degrees Fahrenheit are common.

When the sun does reappear, the interval for nature-watching is short, but travelers to the austral region’s ice floes and end-of-the-earth beauty will experience 18- to 24-hour days and temperatures ranging from 5 to 60 degrees, depending on where they go. For those hoping to see Antarctica’s wildlife, every month brings something different, from the penguin mating season in November to the peak whale-watching weeks in late March. Note that if you book a cruise late in the season, the crowds will be smaller, but so will be your chances of seeing the animals, the majority of whom will already have set out for the open ocean.

Whatever you decide, remember that Antarctica is nature at its most savage; therefore protective gear such as waterproof outerwear, sunscreen, dark glasses, and rubber boots is absolutely essential.

Antarctica Weather by Month

Average monthly temperatures (°F) and rainfall (inches) for select locations are shown below.

Deception Island

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 37 37 35 31 27 23 21 22 26 31 32 36
Low 31 31 29 24 19 14 11 12 17 23 25 30
Rain 2 2 3 2 0 0 1 1 1 4 4 2

McMurdo Sound

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 31 21 6 0 -2 -2 -6 -9 -5 4 20 30
Low 22 11 -4 -12 -16 -16 -22 -25 -20 -9 9 21
Rain 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

South Pole

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High -14 -35 -58 -63 -64 -65 -68 -68 -67 -54 -33 -15
Low -20 -44 -70 -76 -78 -79 -82 -81 -81 -64 -39 -20
Rain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Source: Weatherbase.


Antarctica Travel Guide

Antarctica Tours & Cruises / Antarctica FAQ / Antarctic Treaty General Guidelines / Antarctica Blog Posts

Top Antarctica Cruise Destinations

South Georgia Island / The Antarctic Peninsula / The Falkland Islands / The South Shetland Islands / The Weddell Sea

Antarctica Cruise Ships

Greg Mortimer / Hondius / Le Boreal / Magellan Explorer / Ocean Nova / Ortelius / Plancius / Sylvia Earle / Ushuaia

Top Antarctica Wildlife

Adélie Penguin / Chinstrap Penguin / Emperor Penguin / Gentoo Penguin / Macaroni Penguin / Crabeater Seal / Elephant Seal / Fur Seal / Leopard Seal / Ross Seal / Weddell Seal / Blue Whale / Fin Whale / Humpback Whale / Killer Whale / Minke Whale / Right Whale / Sei Whale / Sperm Whale

Weather for Other Countries

Argentina Weather / Chile Weather

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