Scroll down to see temperature list and interactive map.
Hottest Temps Last Week:
52C | 126F at Islamabad, IS, Pakistan
50C | 123F at Basra, BA, Iraq
50C | 122F at Chandler, AZ, United States
50C | 122F at Death Valley, CA, United States
47C | 117F at Baghdad, BG, Iraq
45C | 114F at Riyadh, 01, Saudi Arabia
41C | 105F at Ashgabat, S, Turkmenistan
COLDEST Temps Last Week:
-71C | -95F at Concordia Station, 00, Antarctica
-61C | -78F at Amundsen-Scott South, 00, Antarctica
The temperature range between the Earth’s poles is drastic due to a combination of factors, including the tilt of the Earth’s axis, the distribution of sunlight, and the circulation of ocean currents and air masses.
One of the main reasons for the temperature difference is that the Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. This means that the poles receive sunlight at a very oblique angle, resulting in less intense solar radiation and cooler temperatures.
Additionally, the distribution of sunlight is uneven due to the Earth’s rotation and the presence of the atmosphere, which causes some areas to receive more or less sunlight than others. The poles receive very little direct sunlight during the winter months, which leads to prolonged periods of darkness and extreme cold.
Finally, the circulation of ocean currents and air masses plays a significant role in the temperature differences between the poles. The ocean currents near the poles are cold and dense, which causes them to sink and flow towards the equator, while warm currents from the equator flow towards the poles. Similarly, cold air masses from the poles move towards the equator, while warm air masses from the equator move towards the poles.
All of these factors combine to create a drastic temperature range between the Earth’s poles, with the Arctic and Antarctic experiencing some of the coldest temperatures on the planet.
The weather surrounding our planet is in constant change. We are recording the extreme world temperatures hourly. This page presents the locations ( for which we receive data ) that made it into the hottest and coldest locations. The temperatures displayed are for one or more hours per the indicated location during the last 7 days. Hottest at the top of the list, Coldest at the bottom.