February 2026 ranked as the fifth warmest February ever recorded globally, according to new data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The month was marked by extreme rainfall across Western Europe and one of the lowest Arctic sea ice levels for February, highlighting the growing impacts of global climate change.
The climate monitoring service, which is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, reported that the global average surface air temperature for February reached 13.26°C. This was about 0.53°C higher than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020, and about 1.49°C above pre-industrial levels from 1850 to 1900.
Climate experts say the data underscores the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF, noted that the extreme conditions observed during the month reflected the intensifying effects of climate change worldwide.
Western Europe experienced heavy rainfall and powerful storms during the month. Countries including France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco faced severe flooding that damaged infrastructure and affected livelihoods. The intense precipitation was linked to atmospheric rivers—long, narrow bands of moisture in the atmosphere capable of delivering enormous amounts of rainfall over short periods.
Flooding was not limited to Europe. Other regions around the world, including Australia, Mozambique, and Botswana, also reported significant flood events during the same period.
Despite the global warmth, temperature patterns across Europe showed strong contrasts. Western, southern, and southeastern parts of the continent experienced above-average temperatures, while colder-than-normal conditions were recorded in northern areas such as Fennoscandia, the Baltic region, and parts of northwestern Russia.
Outside Europe, warmer-than-average temperatures were recorded across several regions, including the United States, northeastern Canada, parts of West and Central Asia, and eastern Antarctica. In contrast, colder conditions were observed in Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and northern Russia.
Sea temperatures also remained unusually high. The global average sea surface temperature between 60° south and 60° north reached 20.88°C in February, making it the joint second-highest value ever recorded for that month. Scientists noted a strong temperature difference in the North Atlantic Ocean, with colder waters in the central and western regions and warmer waters in the subtropical Atlantic. This contrast likely contributed to the development of storms that later moved toward Europe.
The Arctic region also showed worrying signs. The average Arctic sea ice extent in February was about five percent below the long-term average, making it the third-lowest level recorded for the month. Lower-than-average ice coverage was observed in areas such as the Labrador Sea, Baffin Bay, and the Sea of Okhotsk.
However, the situation was different in the Greenland Sea, where sea ice levels reached their highest February extent in more than two decades. Scientists say such regional variations highlight the complex nature of climate systems, where warming trends can still produce contrasting local effects.
In the Antarctic, sea ice conditions appeared closer to normal this year. The minimum summer sea ice extent likely occurred around 22 February and fell within the typical range observed over the past 48 years. This contrasts with the unusually low levels recorded between 2020 and 2024, when Antarctic sea ice reached record or near-record minimums.
Climate researchers emphasize that while a single month cannot define long-term climate trends, the continued appearance of record or near-record warm months is consistent with the broader pattern of global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists warn that rising temperatures, warming oceans, and shrinking polar ice are interconnected processes that influence global weather systems. These changes can increase the likelihood of extreme events such as floods, storms, and heatwaves, affecting ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide.
As global temperatures move closer to the 1.5°C threshold set under international climate agreements, researchers say the need for rapid climate action is becoming increasingly urgent.