The climate in French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Climate zone: Moderate zone of the southern hemisphere

It rarely gets really warm up here. Due to the warmer temperatures, the best time for traveling is from January to February. Less attractive are the cold months from June to September.

Temperature records of the last 69 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1954 to January 2023 was reported by the Ile Amsterdam weather station. In February 2015, the record temperature of 26.2 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 2 weather stations in French Antarctic Lands , was recorded in 1990 with an average temperature of 12.5 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 6.7 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 69 years was reported by the Port Aux, Kerguelen weather station. Here the temperature dropped to -9.5 °C in August 2014. Port Aux, Kerguelen lies at an altitude of 30 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1955 with an average temperature of 7.3 °C. In French Antarctic Lands, it is usual to have about 4.8 degrees more at 12.1 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in March 1978. With 14.1 mm per day, the Ile Amsterdam weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 69 years.

Data basis and methodology

The data from the individual measuring stations are based on the archives of the German Weather Service, individual values averaged and supplemented by own elements. In order to determine a representative national average, average values were first calculated for each part of the country, which were then summarized at the national level.