Warm February found globally

2023 continues its hot streak globally, with February reaching new heights.

Last month, global temperatures was 1.75 degrees Fahrenheit (0.97 Celsius) above the last centuries average. It was the fourth warmest February on record. It was 44th consecutive February to exceed the 20thcentury average.

For the northern hemisphere meteorological winter from December through February, global temperatures were 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.90 degrees Celsius) higher than the global average. This ranks fifth warmest on record, tying 2018 and 2022.

Driving the global weather was Europe and Africa, which had their second and fourth warmest December through February period on record.

The unseasonably warm February contributed to record-low sea ice conditions. Both the Antarctic and Arctic sea ice extent were well below average on February, with the southern ice being lowest in the modern records established 45 years ago. The arctic ice was third smallest.