January 2025 marked the warmest January recorded since 1850, surpassing previous records by 1.59 degrees Celsius (2.86°F) according to NOAA and supported by NASA, Copernicus Climate Change Services, and Berkeley Earth. While global land areas experienced the warmest January, oceans recorded the second warmest temperatures. Interestingly, the U.S. experienced below-average temperatures, making it the coldest January since 1988.
This record warmth occurred despite a weak La Niña event, which is unusual as such events typically do not coincide with record-breaking monthly temperatures. Factors contributing to the warmth included an unusually low albedo (reflectiveness) of Earth’s surface, primarily due to reduced snow cover in Europe and Asia, which led to increased solar energy absorption.
January 2025’s Arctic sea ice range was the second lowest on record, while Antarctica experienced significant melting, with a record 3.7% surface thaw. Extreme temperature records noted in both hemispheres included highs of 49.3°C (120.7°F) in Australia and a low of -61.0°C (-77.8°F) in Greenland.
Overall, January 2025’s weather patterns reflect the unusual conditions attributed to the weak La Niña and possibly emerging climate change effects, with multiple countries setting new high and low temperature records.
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