Esperanza Base Hits 59.7°F Winter Record as Antarctic Peninsula Warms 5 Times Faster
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 12
Esperanza Base Hits 59.7°F Winter Record as Antarctic Peninsula Warms 5 Times Faster
2 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 12
Summary
59.7°F at Argentina’s Esperanza base on June 6 set a new Antarctic winter heat record, topping the station’s 1998 mark by 3.6°F.
20°C above normal, the reading came during a heatwave that kept maximum daily temperatures above freezing for three straight weeks on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Marambio and San Martin also logged record temperatures between June 5 and 6, while scientists reported rain falling instead of snow and unusual snow-free ground in the continent’s far north.
500 meters up Collins glacier on King George Island, Chilean glaciologists found rain actively melting ice during a season when the glacier should be gaining snow.
Since 1950, the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed nearly 3°C—about five times the global average—with sea-ice loss amplifying heating and making winter heatwaves more frequent.
As a deep ocean heatwave melts Antarctica from below, are we miscalculating the true speed of sea-level rise?
With industrial fishing and record heat threatening Antarctica, can global diplomacy prevent an irreversible ecosystem collapse?
Antarctic Winter Shatters Records: Esperanza Base Hits 15.4°C in June 2026 Heatwave, Exposing Urgent Climate Risks
Overview
On June 6, 2026, Esperanza Base in Antarctica experienced a record-breaking winter heatwave, with temperatures reaching 15.4°C. This unusual warmth transformed the landscape and brought a surprising amount of rain instead of snow. The shift from snow to rain not only disrupted penguin colonies that depend on icy habitats but also created serious challenges for scientists, including increased runoff and hazardous ice. These changes highlight how extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in Antarctica, signaling broader impacts on the environment and research operations as the climate continues to warm.