January 2025 set records as the warmest January globally, with an average surface air temperature of 13.23°C, marking a 0.79°C increase over the 1991-2020 January average. It stood at 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, constituting the 18th month in the past 19 where temperatures surpassed 1.5°C above industrial norms.
Over the last year (February 2024 – January 2025), temperatures were 0.73°C higher than the 1991-2020 average and 1.61°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.
In Europe, temperatures averaged 1.80°C, a 2.51°C rise from the 1991-2020 standard, being the second warmest January recorded, only surpassed by January 2020. The southern and eastern regions experienced the most significant warming, while Iceland, the UK, and parts of northern France saw below-average temperatures.
Globally, January’s average sea surface temperature was 20.78°C, the second-highest January temperature on record yet slightly lower than January 2024. Anomalies indicated below-average conditions in the central equatorial Pacific, but temperatures remained elevated in many oceanic regions, hinting at a stagnation in transitioning to La Niña conditions.
In January 2025, record temperatures persisted despite the emergence of La Niña conditions, which typically induce temporary cooling. Samantha Burgess, ECMWF’s Strategic Lead for Climate, emphasized the importance of monitoring ocean temperatures for their impact on climate.
The month was characterized by wetter-than-average conditions in western Europe, parts of Italy, Scandinavia, and the Baltic countries, leading to flooding in some areas. In contrast, drier conditions were noted in northern UK and Ireland, eastern Spain, and north of the Black Sea.
Globally, Alaska, Canada, central and eastern Russia, eastern Australia, southeastern Africa, and southern Brazil experienced increased rainfall and flooding, while the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, eastern China, and parts of southern Africa, South America, and Australia faced drier-than-average conditions.
In terms of sea ice, Arctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for January at 6% below average, while Antarctic sea ice was 5% below average but closer to the norm than in previous years.
Overall, January 2025 highlighted significant climatic variability, with contrasting precipitation patterns across different regions and notable sea ice changes.
