Below is a screenshot of and key extract's from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information's monthly global climate report published Wednesday.
in short, a well-established long term rising trend of global temperatures extended into February. This trend is readily apparent in the graphic below.
of note, large parts of the Arctic posted record warm temps with many areas recording temps more 8 C above average, the agency reported.
NOAA GLOBAL CLIMATE REPORT
"It was the fourth warmest February for the global land air temperature and the second warmest February for the global ocean surface temperature.
"Global temperatures have cooled in recent months as a La Niña episode, the cold phase of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) developed. Global temperatures tend to be cooler during periods of La Niña in comparison to periods with an El Niño present.
"According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center's February 13 ENSO Diagnostic Discussion, La Niña conditions were present and are expected to persist in the near-term, with a transition to ENSO-neutral likely during March-May 2025 (66% chance).
"The Northern Hemisphere had its fourth warmest February on record at 1.61°C (2.90°F) above average. The Northern Hemisphere land-only temperature also was fourth warmest while the Northern Hemisphere ocean-only temperature was second warmest on record for February.
"The most anomalously warm conditions were in the Arctic, which had its warmest February on record, contributing to record low Arctic sea ice extent.
"Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere ranked second warmest on record at 0.91°C (1.64°F) above average. The average ocean-only and land-only temperatures for February in the Southern Hemisphere also individually ranked second warmest on record.
"Meanwhile, the Antarctic region tied 1971 and 2006 as the 23rd-warmest February.
"Record-warm temperatures were widespread in the Arctic, with temperatures in many areas more than 8°C (14°F) above average.
"Approximately 3.3% of the global land surface was covered by record-warm conditions in February.
"Approximately 13% of the global ocean surface was covered by record-warm conditions, the second highest February coverage since records began in 1951, and 1.1% less than the record coverage in 2024."
