1457. Copernicus: Fifth-Warmest February on Record, Extreme Rainfall in Western Europe

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, February 2026 was the fifth-warmest February on record, with temperatures 1.49°C higher than pre-industrial levels. Europe experienced significant temperature fluctuations, with unusual rainfall and widespread flooding in Western Europe.

The average land temperature for Europe in February 2026 was -0.07°C, one of the three lowest temperatures over the past 14 years and 0.10°C lower than the average for February from 1991 to 2020. Meanwhile, there were significant variations in average temperatures across Europe, with Western, Southern, and Southeast Europe experiencing above-average temperatures, while Fennoscandia, the Baltic States, and northwestern Russia experienced cold temperatures. Outside of Europe, the United States, northeastern Canada, the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Antarctica experienced above-average temperatures, while Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and northern Russia experienced cold temperatures.

Severe storms and rainfall continued throughout the month, particularly in Western Europe and North Africa. Heavier-than-average rainfall in France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco caused severe flooding, resulting in widespread damage, loss of life, and loss of livelihoods. Severe flooding also occurred in various parts of the world, including Australia, Mozambique, and Botswana.

The extreme weather events that occurred in February 2026 highlight the growing impacts of climate change and the need for global action. Unusual atmospheric rivers (narrow bands of very moist air) brought record rainfall and widespread flooding to Western and Southern Europe.

The average sea surface temperature (SST) between 60°S and 60°N in February 2026 was 20.88°C, the second-highest recorded for the month, surpassed only by February 2025. A significant SST gradient was observed between the cooler SSTs in the central and western North Atlantic and the warmer SSTs in the subtropical North Atlantic, which likely contributed to the development of the storm that reached Europe.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program