What's more, February 2024 wrapped up both hemispheres' warmest December-through-February period on record, according to scientists from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. Looking how continents ranked, Europe, North America and South America had their warmest February on record, while Africa had its second warmest. The year-to-date (January and February 2024) temperature currently ranks as the world's warmest such period on record. There is a 45% chance that 2024 will be the warmest year in NOAA's 175-year record and a 99% chance it will rank in the top five. Arctic sea ice extent was slightly below average (by 100,000 square miles), whereas Antarctic sea ice extent was substantially below average (by 370,000 square miles), ranking second smallest on record.

Source: The Nation March 16, 2024 04:59 UTC