How could icecaps form in Antarctica if it is a desert?

The icecaps in Antarctica form because it is a desert. Deserts are defined by their lack of precipitation, not by their temperature. Antarctica is the driest continent on Earth, and it receives less than 2 inches of precipitation per year. This lack of precipitation means that there is no liquid water on the surface of the continent to evaporate and create clouds. Without clouds, there is no precipitation, and the snow that falls on Antarctica accumulates and forms icecaps.