To the immense surprise of scientists, Antarctica recorded its hottest day ever on March 24 when temperatures hit 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius).
What was shocking was this spike occurred in March, a very cold month where the average temperature high is only 31.3 F. The new March 24 record was double the average. Equally dismaying was that this new high was the highest since weather stations started tracking temperature in the region.
The previous record for highest temperature was 62.7 F recorded over 50 years ago on April 24, 1961, said Weather Underground.
The temperature is consistent with an observed warming in Antarctica widely attributed to climate change. Antarctica's new record-high temperature is another in a growing body of evidence that global warming is speedily heating-up one of the coldest regions on Earth.
A study released only last week showed the thickness of Antarctica's ice shelves has fallen by some 18 percent in certain areas over the past 20 years. This on top of the already well known fact Antarctica's melting rate has tripled over the last decade, causing an ice loss the same weight as Mt. Everest.
The new temperature high was recorded at the Base Esperanza near the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was also recorded at another Argentinean base called Base Marambio.
The record will have to be verified by the World Meteorological Organization. If verified, the reading will be the highest on record for the entire continent of Antarctica.