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February 2024 Hottest on Global Records, Sets New Temperature Highs

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February 2024 marked the hottest February on record globally, with soaring temperatures recorded by Copernicus, the EU’s climate monitoring service. The average global surface air temperature was 13.54 degrees Celsius, surpassing pre-industrial levels by 1.77 degrees Celsius.

COPERNICUS CLIMATE CHANGE SERVICE/ECMWF
COPERNICUS CLIMATE CHANGE SERVICE/ECMWF

This extends a streak of nine consecutive months setting new records for warmth. Record-high temperatures occurred in the first two weeks of February, with daily averages reaching two degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. Ocean temperatures also peaked, hitting 21.06 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded.

Daily sea surface temperature (°C) averaged over the extra-polar global ocean (60°S–60°N) for 2015 (dark blue), 2016 (light blue), 2020 (yellow), 2023 (red), and 2024 (black line). All other years between 1979 and 2022 are shown with grey lines. COPERNICUS CLIMATE CHANGE SERVICE/ECMWF
Daily sea surface temperature (°C) averaged over the extra-polar global ocean (60°S–60°N) for 2015 (dark blue), 2016 (light blue), 2020 (yellow), 2023 (red), and 2024 (black line). All other years between 1979 and 2022 are shown with grey lines.
COPERNICUS CLIMATE CHANGE SERVICE/ECMWF

These warming oceans exacerbate climate change by melting sea ice and contributing to rising sea levels. Climate scientists warn of critical thresholds being exceeded, including the 1.5-degree Celsius mark. The recent records coincide with an ongoing El Niño event, further impacting global climate patterns.

Daily global average surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to estimated values for 1850-1900 plotted as time series for each year from Jan. 1, 1940 to March 3, 2024.C3S/ECMWF
Daily global average surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to estimated values for 1850-1900 plotted as time series for each year from Jan. 1, 1940 to March 3, 2024.
C3S/ECMWF

Despite the event’s natural occurrence, human activities intensify its effects. Urgent action to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations is emphasised to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

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