The planet just got incredibly close to breaching landmark global warming target
Global temperatures hit a record high in February, nearing critical warming threshold
February 2025 recorded the fifth-highest temperature levels in historical data, according to recent findings by climate researchers. The average global warmth measured at 1.49C above pre-industrial benchmarks highlights the escalating pace of climate shifts, as noted by the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The month witnessed extreme precipitation events and unusually low Arctic sea ice coverage, with the service reporting “third-lowest sea ice extent in the Arctic” and “widespread flooding” across Western Europe. Scientists now suggest that these conditions may be influenced by climate change, contributing to the region’s intense wet season.
Storms and regional impacts
A series of powerful storms, including Leonardo, Pedro, and Nils, swept through Europe, described by Meteo-France as having “uncommon strength.” These weather phenomena triggered severe flooding in countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mozambique, and Botswana, causing significant damage and disruption to communities and infrastructure.
While the UK experienced one of its five wettest Januaries since 1890 in southern counties, and the warmest February day since 2019, the overall climate pattern showed stark contrasts. In Europe, Scandinavia and Eastern regions remained colder than usual, creating a sharp divide with Western and Southern areas.
Climate trends and seasonal changes
Researchers emphasize that February’s anomalies are part of broader seasonal transformations. Summers are extending in duration and intensity, while winters are becoming less severe and more unpredictable, as explained by Samantha Burgess, lead climate strategist at ECMRW.
Ms Burgess linked the extreme weather to the jet stream’s unusual positioning, which shifted further south over the winter. This, combined with atmospheric rivers—narrow bands of moisture—led to heavy rainfall and flooding in western regions, particularly Iberia and western France.
Record-breaking rainfall and road disruptions
Across England, rainfall from December to February exceeded normal levels by 42%, with southern and central areas bearing the brunt. This deluge caused a surge in road damage, as evidenced by the RAC’s data showing a three-and-a-halffold increase in pothole-related breakdown reports compared to February 2025.
Drivers reported 6,290 incidents involving potholes in February 2025, up from 1,842 in the previous year. January’s figures were even higher, with 5,106 mentions at an average of 165 daily reports, reflecting the growing impact of excessive rainfall on transportation infrastructure.
Global warming projections
The 1.49C rise from pre-industrial norms, defined by the 1850-1900 average, brought the world perilously close to the 1.5C target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. The UN has stated that maintaining this goal is now “virtually zero,” with the UK anticipating at least a 2C temperature increase within the next quarter-century.
Blockquote:
“The position of the polar jet stream over the winter, combined with atmospheric rivers, caused heavy-to-extreme precipitation in Western Europe,”
explained Grahame Madge, Met Office climate spokesperson. He noted that Cornwall’s record-breaking winter was due to a “blocked weather pattern over Scandinavia” and “active jet stream driven by cold conditions in North America.”
