Antarctica is the driest, coldest, windiest continent on earth. In July 1983 the lowest recorded temperature on the earth's surface was measured at -89.2°C, at Vostok Station.

The Antarctic presents uniquely difficult conditions for climate and meteorological researchers. Much of the continent is elevated and extremely cold, with inland temperatures rising to about -30°C in summer and falling to below -80°C in winter.

Winds generated by weather near the coast interact with katabatic winds, (produced when the very cold, dense air over the continent's ice sheet flows downwards towards the lower coastal areas). The resulting wind is strong and persistent. Wind speeds gusting over 200 km/hour have been recorded.

Most precipitation falls as snow or ice crystals, although during summer rain can occur near the coast. The windy conditions make it difficult to accurately measure snowall. It is estimated that the annual snowfall over the continent is equal to about 150 mm of water. In the elevated inland it is much drier than this, while near the coast there is more precipitation.

The figures below compare of 30 year normal precipitation totals for selected sites in New Zealand and show how dry Antarctica is.