When we think of countries that experience an endless winter, a few cold places come to mind. But is there anywhere in the world that truly has winter all year round? The answer may surprise you.
What defines a year-round winter climate?
First, let’s examine what constitutes a year-round or “endless” winter. For a location to be considered as having perpetual winter, it must meet certain criteria:
- Average year-round temperatures must remain at or below freezing (0°C or 32°F)
- There must be snow and ice cover on the ground throughout the year
- Sunlight hours are very limited, especially in winter months
Places with short summers may experience average highs slightly above freezing for a couple months. But a true endless winter is cold, dark, and snowy 12 months a year.
The coldest inhabited places on Earth
Some of the coldest inhabited places give us a glimpse into endless winter. Let’s look at the average yearly temperatures in the world’s chilliest towns and remote research outposts:
Location | Average Yearly Temperature |
---|---|
Oymyakon, Russia | -58°F (-50°C) |
Verkhoyansk, Russia | -34°F (-36°C) |
Eureka, Nunavut, Canada | 10.2°F (-12°C) |
McMurdo Station, Antarctica | -5°F (-21°C) |
Bitterly cold temperatures are the norm in these frigid settlements. For residents of Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk, winters last up to 9 months with average highs below 0°F. But summers do bring a reprieve from the cold, with temperatures sometimes rising just above freezing.
What about the South Pole?
The South Pole may come to mind when thinking of endless winters. This southernmost point on Earth experiences frigid weather year-round. However, the South Pole does have a short summer season.
In the summer months of November to February, average temperatures at the South Pole rise to a “balmy” -25°F (-31°C). This allows the average yearly temperature to sneak just above the threshold for perpetual winter. So the South Pole doesn’t fully qualify as a place of endless winter.
The coldest place with no summer: Plateau Station, Antarctica
There is one remote outpost that fulfills all the criteria for a true endless winter: Plateau Station in Antarctica. This research base atop the East Antarctic Plateau experiences astonishingly cold temperatures year-round.
Plateau Station has an average annual temperature of -58°C (-72°F). That’s significantly colder than any other inhabited locale on Earth. Throughout the year, the thermometer remains far below freezing.
Being positioned high atop the Antarctic Plateau at 13,200 feet (4,030 m) altitudealso means the station sees no warmer air masses or sunlight to heat things up. There is perpetual darkness from May to July. And even in peak summer, the sun glows weakly low on the horizon.
Weather data from Plateau Station
Month | Avg High °C | Avg Low °C | Avg °C |
---|---|---|---|
January | -58 | -73 | -66 |
February | -74 | -86 | -82 |
March | -75 | -88 | -83 |
April | -74 | -87 | -82 |
May | -68 | -86 | -78 |
June | -66 | -82 | -74 |
July | -64 | -79 | -73 |
August | -65 | -84 | -77 |
September | -67 | -86 | -80 |
October | -69 | -88 | -81 |
November | -68 | -89 | -82 |
December | -67 | -85 | -79 |
As the data shows, average monthly temperatures at Plateau Station never rise above -58°C (-72°F). There is no monthly variation throughout the year – only relentless, extreme cold.
What is life like in endless winter?
Living and working in a place of perpetual winter poses challenges unlike anywhere else on Earth:
- Supplies only arrive a few times per year. The station is unreachable in winter due to the weather.
- Leaving station buildings is very dangerous without proper protection due to the severe windchill.
- Diesel fuel can turn to gel in the cold, halting electricity generation.
- Static builds up easily, so touching metal door frames can cause a spark shock.
- Exposed skin will suffer frostbite almost instantly.
The personnel at Plateau Station experience isolation and extreme conditions that few humans will ever encounter. Their valuable weather and climate research provides insights into Earth’s atmosphere from the coldest place on the planet.
Conclusion
While other frigid locales like Oymyakon and the South Pole come close, only East Antarctica’s Plateau Station fully qualifies as a place of perpetual winter. With essentially no variation in monthly temperatures around -80°C (-112°F), its weather data meets the criteria for year-round winter conditions. Life on Plateau Station provides a fascinating glimpse of human adaptability in a truly endless winter environment.