Earth’s Coldest Temperature in 14 Years Recorded at Antarctica’s Concordia Station

On July 18, 2026, the Concordia Research Station in Antarctica recorded the coldest temperature in the country since 2012, marking a significant drop in temperature. The station, located at Dome C on the East Antarctic Plateau, is about 10,600 feet above sea level and is only reachable by foot, with the nearest other people being approximately 370 miles away.

The extreme cold was measured twice at 6:25 a.m. and 6:34 a.m. local time, reaching negative 119.4 degrees Fahrenheit (-84.1 degrees Celsius). While this temperature surpassed the previous record of negative 120.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-84.7 degrees Celsius) set in 2010, it still fell short of the world record of negative 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-89.2 degrees Celsius) observed at Vostok Station in 1983.

Concordia is known for its extreme conditions, which closely resemble the challenges astronauts might face during long-term missions to the Moon and Mars. The station's staff of up to 16 people conducts research in glaciology, seismology, and astronomy, while also studying the psychological and physical impacts of prolonged isolation.