South Pole Climate and Average Weather
Climate of South Pole: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in South Pole month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -15° | -18° | 0,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | -32° | -36° | 0,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | -48° | -55° | 0,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | -54° | -61° | 0,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| May | -54° | -62° | 0,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| June | -54° | -62° | 0,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| July | -57° | -65° | 0,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| August | -53° | -61° | 0,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| September | -56° | -63° | 0,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| October | -46° | -51° | 0,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | -27° | -31° | 0,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | -16° | -18° | 0,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Semi-arid. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in South Pole
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
Best time to visit South Pole
Go in January, February and December. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: May, June and July - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for South Pole
Today is much colder than average for August. The forecast high of -68°F is 15.5°F below the -53°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
Overnight lows near -80°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn.
Above 60 degrees latitude, daylight swings enormously - summer nights barely darken and winter days are short.
Southern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in December to February.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 77°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- Avoid high-elevation trails without traction devices - frozen surfaces persist in shade all day.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid May, June and July - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
South Pole is a tourist attraction in Antarctica. South Pole is known for the geographic bottom of the world.
Right now it is -70°F (-57°C) in South Pole with partly cloudy. It feels like -83°F. Today runs from -80°F to -68°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 6.8/10 - fair - plan around the weather.
The best time to visit South Pole is January, February and December. The climate is semi-arid. May, June and July tend to be the least comfortable months. January is the warmest month with average highs near -15°F, while July is the coldest with lows near -65°F.
In plain terms. Today is much colder than average for August. The forecast high of -68°F is 15.5°F below the -53°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 9 AM to 12 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. driving is the strongest bet in South Pole today at 9.1/10. Overnight lows near -80°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about South Pole
| Type | Attraction |
|---|---|
| Continent | Antarctica |
| Continent | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 90°0′0″S 0°0′0″E (-90, 0) |
| Known for | the geographic bottom of the world |
| Main season | November to March |
| Local time | 1:23 AM (UTC+12:00) |
| Best months | January, February and December |
| Climate | Semi-arid |
Weather map for South Pole
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore South Pole
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is South Pole?
South Pole is a tourist attraction in Antarctica. Its coordinates are -90, 0. It lies in Antarctica.
What is the weather like in South Pole right now?
It is currently -70°F (-57°C) with partly cloudy. Humidity is 67% and wind is 12 mph.
When is the best time to visit South Pole?
January, February and December offer the most comfortable conditions in South Pole, which has a semi-arid climate. May, June and July are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is South Pole in?
South Pole observes Antarctica/McMurdo (UTC+12:00). The local time is 1:23 AM.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (antarctica) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 22, 2026 at 1:23 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
