Coldest Temperatures Ever Recorded on Earth

About This Dataset

The lowest temperatures ever officially recorded at specific locations, according to World Meteorological Organisation and scientific station records. The coldest natural temperature ever recorded on Earth's surface was -89.2°C at the Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica on 21 July 1983 — well below the temperature of dry ice.

✨ AI Insight

The stark contrast between the coldest temperatures recorded at Vostok Station and other locations underscores the extreme climatic conditions of Antarctica. Vostok's record of -89.2°C is a staggering 23°C lower than the second coldest, Plateau Station at -86.2°C, indicating a significant climatic anomaly in the region. The presence of multiple Russian locations like Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk in the top entries, with temperatures of -71.2°C and -69.8°C respectively, suggests that Siberia also experiences severe cold, albeit not to the extremes of Antarctica. This trend highlights the unique geographical and atmospheric conditions that contribute to such record lows, particularly in polar regions.

Source: World Meteorological Organisation

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Fort Selkirk (Canada) leads with -59 in 1983.

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1893 recorded the highest combined total across all categories.