February 2026 was the 5th-warmest February on record
February 2026 just became the fifth warmest February in recorded history, with global temperatures averaging 1.49 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
The month saw an average surface air temperature of 13.26 degrees Celsius, beating the usual February average.
Wild weather followed: think major storms and heavy rains that led to serious flooding across France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
A look at regional impacts
Europe had a mixed bag: western and southern regions were warmer than normal, while places like Fennoscandia and the Baltics were colder than usual.
Globally, some spots like the US and East Antarctica also felt the heat, but Alaska and northern Canada stayed chilly.
On top of all that, Arctic sea ice dropped to its third-lowest level for any February — another reminder of how much things are changing.