Why is antarctica considered to be a dessert?

Antarctica is not considered to be a desert. In fact, it is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth. The average temperature in Antarctica is -57 degrees Fahrenheit (-49 degrees Celsius), and the average annual precipitation is less than 2 inches (5 centimeters). This makes Antarctica a polar desert, which is a type of desert that is characterized by extreme cold and dryness.