Unprecedented global heat continued in January 2025, marking the third hottest month on record globally, despite the cooling influence of La Niña conditions. According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, January 2025 was 0.09°C warmer than January 2024 and 1.75°C higher than pre-industrial levels, as reported by El Periódico.
"January 2025 was another astonishing month, continuing the record temperatures observed over the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions," said Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
La Niña, a natural phenomenon that typically results in cooler global temperatures, seems to have had a limited impact on curbing the ongoing rise in global heat. AZERTAC reported that climatologists warn its cooling effect may not be sufficient to counteract the primary force driving temperature rises: fossil fuel emissions.
Over the last 19 months, 18 have seen global average surface temperatures at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, continuing a concerning trend of record-breaking temperatures.
In Europe, January 2025 was the second warmest January on record, with an average temperature 2.51°C above the 1991–2020 average, despite below-average temperatures in some regions. The highest temperatures were recorded in southern and eastern parts of the continent, including western Russia.
Conversely, below-average temperatures were noted in regions such as Iceland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, northern France, and parts of Scandinavia, including northern Fennoscandia, according to Ouest-France. In Ireland, January 2025 was colder but drier than usual, with temperatures 0.45°C below the most recent 1991–2020 long-term average.
The Arctic experienced anomalies, with sea ice extent marking its lowest monthly value for January 2025, being 6% below the average for the season and nearly tied with January 2018. Sea ice concentration anomalies were particularly notable in the eastern Canadian sector, including Hudson Bay, the Labrador Sea, and the northern Barents Sea, with a decrease of six percent in January.
Despite the cooling conditions in the central equatorial Pacific associated with La Niña, sea surface temperatures remained unusually high in many other ocean basins and seas. "We've not seen the typical cooling after an El Niño, which is unusual," said Burgess, noting the persistent warmth in the world's oceans.
Globally, average sea surface temperatures in January 2025 were 20.78°C, making it the warmest January on record for sea surface temperatures and contributing to the overall global heat, according to Mediapart. The persistent ocean warmth is a key factor in the continued high global temperatures.
Scientists attribute the continued warming primarily to the accumulation of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. "By far and away the largest contributing factor to our warming climate is the burning of fossil fuels," Burgess stated.
The persistent global heat has raised concerns about the effectiveness of efforts to limit temperature increases. Under the Paris Agreement, world leaders pledged to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, recent data indicates that this limit is being tested.
The continuation of unprecedented global heat amid La Niña conditions has prompted scientists to call for urgent action. "It's more important than ever that countries cut emissions," said Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Norway's Minister of Climate and Environment.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq