February 2024 Selected Climate Anomalies and Events Map

Temperature

In January 2024, the NOAA Global Surface Temperature (NOAAGlobalTemp) dataset version 6.0.0 replaced version 5.1.0. This new version incorporates an artificial neural network (ANN) method to improve the spatial interporlation of monthly land surface air temperatures. The period of record (1850-present) and complete global coverage remain the same as in the previous version of NOAAGlobalTemp. While anomalies and ranks might differ slightly from what was reported previously, the main conclusions regarding global climate change are very similar to the previous version. Please see our Commonly Asked Questions Document and web story for additional information.

NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information calculates the global temperature anomaly every month based on preliminary data generated from authoritative datasets of temperature observations from around the globe. The major dataset, NOAAGlobalTemp version 6.0.0, updated in 2024, uses comprehensive data collections of increased global area coverage over both land and ocean surfaces. NOAAGlobalTempv6.0.0 is a reconstructed dataset, meaning that the entire period of record is recalculated each month with new data. Based on those new calculations, the new historical data can bring about updates to previously reported values. These factors, together, mean that calculations from the past may be superseded by the most recent data and can affect the numbers reported in the monthly climate reports. The most current reconstruction analysis is always considered the most representative and precise of the climate system, and it is publicly available through Climate at a Glance.


February 2024

The February global surface temperature was 1.40°C (2.52°F) above the 20th-century average of 12.1°C (53.8°F), making it the warmest February on record. This was 0.06°C (0.11°F) above the previous record from February 2016. February 2024 marked the 45th-consecutive February (since March 1979) with temperatures at least nominally above the 20th-century average.

February had a record-high monthly global ocean surface temperature for the 11th consecutive month. El Niño conditions that emerged in June 2023 continued into February, and according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center it is likely that El Niño will transition to ENSO-neutral by April-June 2024 (83% chance), with increasing odds of La Niña developing in June-August 2024 (62% chance).

The Northern Hemisphere tied 2016 as the warmest February on record at 1.85°C (3.33°F) above average. The Northern Hemisphere land temperature tied 2020 as the second highest on record while the ocean temperature was again record-high by a wide margin (0.32°C/0.58°F warmer than February 2020). The Arctic region had its third warmest February on record.

February 2024 in the Southern Hemisphere also ranked warmest on record at 0.95°C (1.71°F) above average. The ocean-only temperature for February in the Southern Hemisphere ranked highest on record, while the land-only Southern Hemisphere temperature was 2nd warmest on record. Meanwhile, the Antarctic region had its 54th coolest February, 0.17°C (0.31°F) below average.

A smoothed map of blended land and sea surface temperature anomalies is also available.

Temperatures were warmer to much-warmer-than-average across the Arctic with the exception of much of Greenland to northern Iceland, and parts of the North Atlantic. Above-average to much-above-average temperatures also covered almost all of North America, most of western Europe into western Asia, most of South America, Africa and Australia. Record warm February temperatures affected many parts of Europe, South America, and in the southern half of Africa. As was the case in January, sea surface temperatures were again above average across much of the northern, western, and equatorial Pacific Ocean. Record-warm February temperatures covered much of the northeastern and tropical Atlantic Ocean as well as large parts of the Indian Ocean. Record-warm temperatures covered approximately 13.8% of the world's surface this February, which was the highest percentage for February since the start of records in 1951, and 7.4% higher than the previous February record in 1986.

Near-average to cooler-than-average temperatures covered much of central and eastern Russia, Mongolia, large parts of China, some areas in northern Australia, and parts of Antarctica in February. As they were in January, sea surface temperatures were again near to below average over parts of the southeastern Pacific Ocean, the southern Ocean, and southwestern Indian Ocean as well as over parts of the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Zero percent of the world's surface had a record-cold February.

North America, South America and Europe had their warmest Februarys on record, while Africa had its second warmest February, behind 2010.

  • The United Kingdom experienced its second warmest February on record, with an average temperature of 6.3°C, and England and Wales had their respective warmest Februarys on record, based on preliminary data.
  • Germany recorded its warmest February on record, 5.1°C (9.2°F) warmer than the 1991–2020 average.
  • MeteoSwiss reported this February as the warmest on record for Switzerland, 4.6°C (8.3°F) above the 1991–2020 average.
  • The contiguous U.S. had its third warmest February in the 130-year record, 7.2°F above average.

February 2024 ranked fourth warmest on record for Oceania while Asia ranked 26th warmest on record.

  • Japan had its second warmest February since statistics began in 1898, 1.83°C above the 1991–2020 average.
  • According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, this was the fourth-warmest February on record for Australia since observations began in 1910, 1.71°C (3.08°F) above the 1961–1990 average.
  • February 2024 was near average (0.1°C below the 1991–2020 February average) according to New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
February Ranks and Records
FebruaryAnomalyRank
(out of 175 years)
Records
°C°FYear(s)°C°F
Global
Land+2.23+4.01Warmest2nd2016+2.52+4.54
Coolest174th1880, 1891-1.32-2.38
Ocean+1.03+1.85Warmest1st2024+1.03+1.85
Coolest175th1911-0.49-0.88
Land and Ocean+1.40+2.52Warmest1st2024+1.40+2.52
Coolest175th1917-0.63-1.13
Northern Hemisphere
Land+2.73+4.91Warmest2nd2016+3.17+5.71
Coolest174th1880-1.60-2.88
Ties: 2020
Ocean+1.19+2.14Warmest1st2024+1.19+2.14
Coolest175th1909-0.51-0.92
Land and Ocean+1.85+3.33Warmest1st2016, 2024+1.85+3.33
Coolest175th1893-0.81-1.46
Ties: 2016
Southern Hemisphere
Land+1.09+1.96Warmest2nd1998+1.23+2.21
Coolest174th1883, 1891-0.93-1.67
Ocean+0.91+1.64Warmest1st2024+0.91+1.64
Coolest175th1911-0.50-0.90
Land and Ocean+0.95+1.71Warmest1st2024+0.95+1.71
Coolest175th1917-0.53-0.95
Antarctic
Land and Ocean-0.17-0.31Warmest122nd1986+1.40+2.52
Coolest54th1920-0.66-1.19
Arctic
Land and Ocean+3.69+6.64Warmest3rd2016+4.52+8.14
Coolest173rd1979-3.81-6.86

500 mb maps

In the atmosphere, 500-millibar height pressure anomalies correlate well with temperatures at the Earth's surface. The average position of the upper-level ridges of high pressure and troughs of low pressure—depicted by positive and negative 500-millibar height anomalies on the map—is generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively.

hgtanomaly-global-202402.png

Seasonal Temperature: December 2023–February 2024

The December 2023–February 2024 global surface temperature was the warmest December–February period in the 175-year record, 1.36°C (2.45°F) above the 20th-century average of 12.1°C (53.8°F). The past ten December–February periods have ranked among the twelve warmest such periods on record.

The December–February period is defined as the Northern Hemisphere's meteorological winter and the Southern Hemisphere's meteorological summer. The Northern Hemisphere winter 2024 temperature was also the warmest on record, and marks the 39th consecutive winter with global temperatures nominally above the 20th-century average in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere summer temperature also ranked warmest on record, and marks the 48th consecutive warmer-than-average summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

December–February Ranks and Records
December–FebruaryAnomalyRank
(out of 175 years)
Records
°C°FYear(s)°C°F
Global
Land+2.11+3.80Warmest1st2024+2.11+3.80
Coolest175th1861-1.16-2.09
Ocean+1.02+1.84Warmest1st2024+1.02+1.84
Coolest175th1917-0.49-0.88
Land and Ocean+1.36+2.45Warmest1st2024+1.36+2.45
Coolest175th1917-0.63-1.13
Northern Hemisphere
Land+2.65+4.77Warmest1st2024+2.65+4.77
Coolest175th1861-1.35-2.43
Ocean+1.23+2.21Warmest1st2024+1.23+2.21
Coolest175th1917-0.50-0.90
Land and Ocean+1.84+3.31Warmest1st2024+1.84+3.31
Coolest175th1917-0.77-1.39
Southern Hemisphere
Land+0.88+1.58Warmest6th2020+1.04+1.87
Coolest170th1864-0.83-1.49
Ocean+0.88+1.58Warmest1st2024+0.88+1.58
Coolest175th1917-0.48-0.86
Land and Ocean+0.88+1.58Warmest1st2024+0.88+1.58
Coolest175th1917-0.49-0.88
Antarctic
Land and Ocean-0.36-0.65Warmest165th1977+0.75+1.35
Coolest11th2000-0.56-1.01
Ties: 1894, 1964
Arctic
Land and Ocean+3.43+6.17Warmest3rd2018+4.19+7.54
Coolest173rd1894-2.70-4.86

Over the land surface, air temperatures for the season were much-above-average across large parts of North America which had its warmest winter on record. An exception to the warmth in North America occurred in Alaska and large parts of Greenland. Some of the largest positive anomalies of the season, greater than 3°C (5.4°F) above the 1991–2020 average occurred in parts of central and eastern Canada and the Upper Midwest of the U.S. The persistent much-above and record-warm temperatures brought Great Lakes ice cover to historic lows by late winter. Much warmer than average to record temperatures also covered South America, which had its warmest December–February period on record.

In Africa anomalous warmth covered most of the continent, where the December–February period was the second warmest on record, and warmer-than-average temperatures covered much of Europe, which also had its second warmest winter on record. It was the third warmest winter on record for the Arctic. Anomalous seasonal warmth also stretched from Southwest Asia, where record temperatures were widespread, into western and southern China and Japan as well as Australia and Oceania. Oceania had its third warmest December–February and Asia its 10th warmest.

Another exception to the winter warmth occurred in northern areas of Europe where near-average to below-average temperatures stretched from Scandinavia to northwestern areas of Russia. Near-average and below-average winter temperatures also covered large parts of central and eastern Russia as well as parts of eastern China. Below-average temperatures covered most of the Antarctic, where the summer tied 1894 and 1964 as 11th coldest on record.

Sea surface temperatures for the December–February period were above average across much of the northern, western, and equatorial Pacific Ocean as well as parts of the western Indian Ocean. Much of the tropical and eastern Atlantic Ocean were record warm. Sea surface temperatures for the season were near to below average over parts of the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic Ocean, the southwestern Atlantic, the southeastern Pacific, the Southern Ocean, and the southwestern Indian Ocean.

A smoothed map of blended land and sea surface temperature anomalies is also available.

Europe recorded its second-warmest winter on record at 2.74°C (4.93°F) above the 20th century average. Africa's December to February period also ranked second warmest, 1.70°C (3.06°F) above average.

  • Germany experienced its third warmest winter on record, 2.7°C above the 1991–2020 average.
  • Switzerland recorded its mildwest winter since measurements began, 2.8°C (5.0°F) above the 1991–2020 average.
  • Following a record warm January and anomalous February warmth, Morocco recorded its warmest winter since the start of the national record in 1981, 2.82°C (5.1°F) above the 1991–2020 average.

North America (3.43°C; 6.17°F above average) and South America (1.94°C; 3.49°F above average) each recorded a December to February period that was warmest on record.

  • The contiguous U.S. had its warmest winter on record.
  • Canada had its warmest winter on record by a wide margin, 1.1°C (2°F) warmer than the previous record warm winter in 2009-2010, based on preliminary data from Environment Canada.
  • The Hawaiian region recorded its sixteenth-warmest winter on record.
  • The Caribbean Islands had their warmest winter on record.

Asia had its tenth-warmest December to February (1.81°C; 3.26°F above average) and Oceania its third warmest for the 3-month period (1.50°C; 2.70°F above average).

  • In Japan, this winter was the second warmest since statistics began in 1898, 1.27°C above the 1991–2020 average. This was slightly cooler than the 2020 season.
  • In Australia, the national mean temperature for summer was 1.62°C above the 1961–1990 average, the third-warmest on record.
  • Summer in New Zealand ranked ninth warmest on record at 0.8°C above the 1991–2020 average.


Year-to-date Temperature: January–February 2024

The January–February global surface temperature was the warmest in the 175-year record at 1.34°C (2.41°F) above the 1901-2000 average of 12.1°C (53.8°F).

January to February was characterized by much-warmer-than-average to record-warm conditions across many parts of the globe. The most extensive area of much-above and record-warm conditions occurred in South America, which had its warmest January-February (year-to-date) on record. Above average to record warm conditions also covered large parts of Africa, Europe, and Oceania, each which had their second warmest January-Februarys on record. In North America, temperatures more than 3°C (5.4°F) above the 1991–2020 average covered a large area from the Upper Midwest of the United States and south-central Canada to Quebec province and Newfoundland and Labrador. Anomalies in excess of 3°C (5.4°F) were widespread in northwestern areas of Siberia and throughout large parts of the Arctic, which had its fourth warmest January-February on record, 3.27°C (5.89°F) above average.

In contrast, near to below-average January-February temperatures covered most of Antarctica, as well as much of Alaska, northwestern Canada, Greenland, and an area that stretched from Scandinavia to western parts of Russia, southern and eastern areas of Russia, eastern Mongolia, parts of China, and locations in and near the Himalayas.

Sea surface temperatures for the January–February period were above average across much of the northern, western, and equatorial Pacific Ocean as well as parts of the western Indian Ocean. Much of the tropical and northeastern Atlantic Ocean were record warm. Sea surface temperatures for the two-month period were near to below average over parts of the Gulf of Mexico and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, the southwestern Atlantic, the southeastern Pacific, the Southern Ocean, and the southwestern Indian Ocean.

A smoothed map of blended land and sea surface temperature anomalies is also available.

South America had its warmest January–February period on record. Europe, Africa, and Oceania each had their second-warmest January–February periods on record. North America had its 4th warmest and Asia its 14th warmest.

January–February Ranks and Records
January–FebruaryAnomalyRank
(out of 175 years)
Records
°C°FYear(s)°C°F
Global
Land+2.05+3.69Warmest3rd2016+2.24+4.03
Coolest173rd1893-1.21-2.18
Ocean+1.03+1.85Warmest1st2024+1.03+1.85
Coolest175th1917-0.52-0.94
Land and Ocean+1.34+2.41Warmest1st2024+1.34+2.41
Coolest175th1861, 1917-0.58-1.04
Northern Hemisphere
Land+2.57+4.63Warmest3rd2016+2.83+5.09
Coolest173rd1893-1.56-2.81
Ocean+1.21+2.18Warmest1st2024+1.21+2.18
Coolest175th1917-0.52-0.94
Land and Ocean+1.79+3.22Warmest1st2024+1.79+3.22
Coolest175th1893-0.87-1.57
Southern Hemisphere
Land+0.86+1.55Warmest8th2010+1.03+1.85
Coolest168th1904-0.80-1.44
Ocean+0.90+1.62Warmest1st2024+0.90+1.62
Coolest175th1917-0.51-0.92
Land and Ocean+0.89+1.60Warmest1st2024+0.89+1.60
Coolest175th1917-0.52-0.94
Antarctic
Land and Ocean-0.38-0.68Warmest161st1939, 1986+0.71+1.28
Coolest15th2000-0.48-0.86
Arctic
Land and Ocean+3.27+5.89Warmest4th2016+4.75+8.55
Coolest172nd1894-2.78-5.00

Precipitation

The maps shown below represent land-only precipitation anomalies and land-only percent of normal precipitation based on the GHCN dataset of land surface stations.

February 2024

Above-average February precipitation occurred across much of the western U.S. and the western half of Alaska, eastern Brazil, much of western and northern Europe, central Asia, and much of central and eastern China and Japan. Northern and eastern areas of Australia also received generally above average precipitation in February. Precipitation was below average in much of the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada, much of Mexico, the Amazon basin, large parts of southeastern Europe, much of India and Southeast Asia, as well as most observing locations in West and North Africa.

  • Heavy rain in late February triggered flooding in several regions in northern Spain. 24-hour rainfall totals exceeded 120 millimeters (4.7 in.) in many locations.
  • In central and northern Italy, heavy rain in late February led to flooding and landslides.
  • In the U.S. West a series of atmospheric river events caused significant flooding and landslides in parts of California. The city of Los Angeles received more than 305 millimeters (12 in.) of rain during February, approximately three times the February average, becoming the wettest February in decades for the city.
  • Heavy rainfall in northern and western Ecuador resulted in flooding, landslides, and widespread damage in February.
  • In northern Madagascar heavy rainfall throughout most of February resulted in widespread flooding.
  • In southern Africa generally below-average seasonal rainfall under the influence of El Niño led to one of the driest Februarys in the past forty years in the central part of the region, across the Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana border.
  • According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily brought heavy rain to Queensland and parts of the Northern Territory in early February. Daily rainfall totals exceeded 150 millimeters (5.9 in.) in many locations with a 24-hour report as high as 332 millimeters (13.1 in.).

  • References

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    • Adler, R., M. Sapiano, G. Huffman, J. Wang, G. Gu, D. Bolvin, L. Chiu, U. Schneider, A. Becker, E. Nelkin, P. Xie, R. Ferraro, D. Shin, 2018. The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Monthly Analysis (New Version 2.3) and a Review of 2017 Global Precipitation. Atmosphere. 9(4), 138; doi:10.3390/atmos9040138
    • Gu, G., and R. Adler, 2022. Observed Variability and Trends in Global Precipitation During 1979-2020. Climate Dynamics, doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06567-9
    • Huang, B., Peter W. Thorne, et. al, 2017: Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature version 5 (ERSSTv5), Upgrades, validations, and intercomparisons. J. Climate, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0836.1
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    • Menne, M. J., C. N. Williams, B.E. Gleason, J. J Rennie, and J. H. Lawrimore, 2018: The Global Historical Climatology Network Monthly Temperature Dataset, Version 4. J. Climate, in press. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0094.1.
    • Peterson, T.C. and R.S. Vose, 1997: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network Database. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 78, 2837-2849.
    • Vose, R., B. Huang, X. Yin, D. Arndt, D. R. Easterling, J. H. Lawrimore, M. J. Menne, A. Sanchez-Lugo, and H. M. Zhang, 2021. Implementing Full Spatial Coverage in NOAA's Global Temperature Analysis. Geophysical Research Letters 48(10), e2020GL090873; doi:10.1029/2020gl090873.

    Citing This Report

    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Global Climate Report for February 2024, published online March 2024, retrieved on March 19, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202402.