February 2025 went down in climate history as the third warmest February on record, with the average surface air temperature reaching 13.36°C, 0.63°C higher than the average February for the period. 1991–2020. In parallel, global sea ice cover has reached historic lows, indicating a continuing trend of climate change.

Record temperatures and melting sea ice

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), daily global sea ice extent reached a new historic low in early February. Arctic sea ice recorded its lowest monthly extent in February, at 8 % below average, the first time in three consecutive months. Antarctic sea ice also reached its fourth lowest monthly extent, at 26 % below average. Confirmation of whether Antarctica has reached its second lowest annual minimum in the satellite record will not be available until early March.

"The world continues to experience a series of record or near-record temperatures, leading to significant sea ice melt at both poles. This is pushing global sea ice cover to a historic low," said Samantha Burgess, ECMWF's climate strategy lead.

Regional climate variations

In Europe, February 2025 was 0.44°C warmer than the 1991–2020 average, placing it outside the top ten warmest Februarys on record for the continent. The highest above-average temperatures were recorded over northern Fennoscandia, Iceland and the Alps, while eastern Europe experienced below-average temperatures.

Outside Europe, the highest above-average temperatures were observed in large parts of the Arctic, northern Chile, Argentina, western Australia, and the southwestern United States and Mexico. The most significant below-average temperatures were in parts of the United States and Canada, as well as in the East Asian region including southern Russia, Mongolia, China, and Japan.

Sea surface temperature and hydrological changes

The average sea surface temperature (SST) for February 2025 was 20.88°C, the second highest on record for the month, just 0.18°C below the February 2024 record. SSTs remained unusually high in many ocean basins and seas, with some areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea, experiencing more record areas than the previous month.

Hydrological conditions in Europe were largely below average, coinciding with low surface soil moisture in central and eastern Europe, southeastern Spain and Turkey. Conversely, Iceland, Ireland, the southern United Kingdom, parts of southern France and central Italy experienced above average precipitation. Dry weather prevailed in North America, southwestern and central Asia, as well as most of Australia and South America, with Argentina experiencing fires. The eastern and western United States, Alaska, parts of Canada and regions of the Arabian Peninsula experienced increased moisture, while southeastern Africa and the South Pacific experienced cyclones causing significant damage.

Global context and future challenges

The 12-month period March 2024 – February 2025 was 0.71°C warmer than the 1991–2020 average and 1.59°C above pre-industrial levels, increasing pressure on international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

These data clearly demonstrate the ongoing impact of climate change on global and regional climate systems, including extreme temperatures, melting sea ice, and extreme hydrological events. Experts emphasize the urgency of taking effective measures to mitigate these impacts and strengthen the resilience of societies to climate risks.

February 2025 provides further evidence of the accelerating pace of climate change and its global impact. Results achieved by the service Copernicus Climate Change Service and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts They emphasize the need for coordinated international action to limit global warming and protect the environment for future generations. Spring