How Antarctica warmed by 28°C in depths of winter – what it signals for decades ahead
In July and August 2024, temperatures in parts of East Antarctica rose by up to 28°C above average and stayed high for more than two weeks. The heatwave was amplified by human-caused climate change and could become more common in the decades ahead.
In the Antarctic winter of 2024, temperatures in East Antarctica rose by up to 28°C above average and stayed high for over two weeks. The heatwave was caused by a weakening of the Antarctic polar vortex, allowing warm air to move into the continent. A persistent high-pressure system and low sea ice levels contributed to the prolonged heatwave. Human-caused climate change made the event stronger and more likely. The heatwave could become up to 20 times more frequent by the end of the century under high emissions. Antarctica's warming has global consequences, including sea level rise and shifting climate patterns.
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