Concordia Station Hits Minus 119.4 F, Earth’s Coldest Reading Since 2012
Updated
Updated · Livescience.com · Jul 29
Concordia Station Hits Minus 119.4 F, Earth’s Coldest Reading Since 2012
3 articles · Updated · Livescience.com · Jul 29
Summary
Minus 119.4 F (minus 84.1 C) was recorded at Antarctica’s Concordia station on July 18, with the low reached twice within nine minutes, according to station data.
Concordia’s winter setup drove the plunge: months of darkness, extremely dry and stable air, and clear skies that let heat escape to space on the high Antarctic Plateau.
Researchers said the reading is remarkable but not unprecedented for the site, where winter temperatures often drop below minus 112 F; Concordia’s own record is minus 120.5 F from 2010.
The cold snap came as North America and Europe faced heat waves, underscoring that isolated extreme cold events can still occur within a broader warming climate.
East Antarctica remains vulnerable despite its relative stability: a 2024 winter heat wave near Concordia set a March high of 15.1 F, and scientists say such extremes help refine climate models.