Antarctica has endured near record-breaking temperatures of late. And now a meridional jet stream flow (induced by low solar activity) is beginning to funnel some of that bone-chilling cold northwards, into South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Antarctica’s Dome Fuji Station, which is located some 2,400 km from Scott Base, has plunged to -81.7 deg C (-115 deg F) — this is among the locales coldest readings ever recorded. Professor John Cottle, Antarctica New Zealand Chief Scientific Adviser, said July is typically the coldest month of the year, so the temperature could easily drop another degree or two next month. “At bases in the center of Antarctica, people are unlikely to be able to venture outside, or if they do, they won’t be able to have any bare skin exposed to avoid frostbite,” said Cottle. “With these conditions, [frostbite] would occur within a few seconds, much like a ‘burn’ from liquid nitrogen.” Temperature anomalies across the icy continent have been holding well-below normal this week. According to the University of Maine, today, June 17, the Antarctic is -3.8C below the 1979-2000 base. However, last week that departure from the norm was a staggering -8.6C below: