Last updated: May 6, 2024
Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification McMurdo Station features a ice cap climate (EF).Temperatures typically range between -25 °C (-13 °F) and -5 °C (24 °F) through the year, but rarely can drop to -40 °C (-39 °F) or can rise to as high as 1 °C (33 °F).The average annual precipitation amounts to about 210 mm (8.3 inches) and receives 53 rainy days on the 1 mm (0.04 inches) threshold annually.McMurdo Station enjoys an average of 3042 hours of sunshine throughout the year, and daylight varies from 0 hours 0 minutes to 24 hours 0 minutes per day.
The warmest months in McMurdo Station are January, February and December, with daily mean temperatures ranging from -9 to -5 °C (16 - 24 °F) throughout the day. The coldest temperatures usually occur in July, August and September, when daily mean temperatures range from -25 to -24 °C (-13 - -10 °F) throughout the day. On average each year, McMurdo Station experiences 0 days above 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 329 days below 0 °C (32.0 °F).
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum | 0°C (32°F) | 0°C (33°F) | -6°C (22°F) | -9°C (16°F) | -7°C (19°F) | -6°C (21°F) | -6°C (22°F) | -11°C (12°F) | -12°C (10°F) | -4°C (25°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 1°C (33°F) |
Mean maximum | -0°C (32°F) | -3°C (27°F) | -8°C (18°F) | -12°C (11°F) | -10°C (14°F) | -11°C (13°F) | -11°C (13°F) | -13°C (9°F) | -15°C (5°F) | -9°C (17°F) | -4°C (26°F) | -0°C (32°F) |
Average high | -4°C (26°F) | -8°C (18°F) | -15°C (6°F) | -20°C (-3°F) | -19°C (-2°F) | -21°C (-5°F) | -21°C (-6°F) | -23°C (-9°F) | -22°C (-8°F) | -16°C (4°F) | -9°C (16°F) | -4°C (26°F) |
Daily mean | -5°C (24°F) | -9°C (16°F) | -16°C (3°F) | -22°C (-7°F) | -21°C (-6°F) | -23°C (-9°F) | -24°C (-10°F) | -25°C (-13°F) | -24°C (-12°F) | -18°C (0°F) | -11°C (13°F) | -5°C (23°F) |
Average low | -6°C (21°F) | -11°C (13°F) | -18°C (-0°F) | -24°C (-11°F) | -24°C (-10°F) | -25°C (-14°F) | -26°C (-14°F) | -28°C (-17°F) | -27°C (-16°F) | -20°C (-4°F) | -12°C (10°F) | -6°C (21°F) |
Mean minimum | -10°C (15°F) | -16°C (3°F) | -25°C (-13°F) | -32°C (-26°F) | -30°C (-22°F) | -31°C (-24°F) | -34°C (-29°F) | -36°C (-33°F) | -34°C (-29°F) | -29°C (-19°F) | -19°C (-2°F) | -10°C (14°F) |
Minimum | -10°C (13°F) | -19°C (-2°F) | -30°C (-22°F) | -38°C (-37°F) | -34°C (-29°F) | -40°C (-39°F) | -37°C (-34°F) | -39°C (-38°F) | -37°C (-34°F) | -31°C (-24°F) | -20°C (-4°F) | -12°C (10°F) |
Compare temperature, precipitation, sunshine, UV index in McMurdo Station, Antarctica with other places around the world.
McMurdo Station usually has the most precipitation in March, August and September, with an average of 5 rainy days and 23 mm (0.9 inches) of precipitation per month.The driest months in McMurdo Station are April, July and November. On average, 12 mm (0.5 inches) of precipitation falls during these months.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15 (0.6) | 20 (0.8) | 25 (1.0) | 12 (0.5) | 21 (0.8) | 17 (0.7) | 14 (0.5) | 24 (0.9) | 21 (0.8) | 19 (0.7) | 9 (0.4) | 14 (0.5) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
The sunniest months in McMurdo Station are January, November and December, when the sun shines an average of 18 hours 21 minutes a day.Least sunny months in McMurdo Station: May, June and July receive an average of 0 hours 0 minutes of sunshine daily.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 466 | 435 | 233 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 186 | 391 | 604 | 617 |
Mean daily daylight hours | 24h 0m | 22h 35m | 13h 34m | 6h 59m | 0h 0m | 0h 0m | 0h 0m | 4h 1m | 10h 45m | 19h 36m | 24h 0m | 24h 0m |
McMurdo Station experiences the highest level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in January, November and December, when the maximum UV index can reach values of 6 - 8, which corresponds to the High / Very High category of sun exposure.May, June and July are in the Low exposure category. In these months, the maximum values of the UV index do not exceed 0. For more detailed information, check out our hourly McMurdo Station UV Index data.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UV Index (month maximum) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 6 |