the south pole has a desert climate. it almost never gets any precipitation. air humidity is near zero. however, high winds can cause the blowing of snowfall, and the accumulation of snow amounts to about per year. the former dome seen in pictures of the amundsen-scott station is partially buried due to snow storms, and the entrance to the dome had to be regularly bulldozed to uncover it. more recent buildings are raised on stilts so that the snow does not build up against the sides.