February 2016: Global Significant Climate Events Map

GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
February 2016 average global land and ocean temperature was the highest for February since records began in 1880.

ARCTIC SEA ICE EXTENT
February 2016 sea ice extent reached a record low for the second consecutive month. February 2016 sea ice extent was 7.5 percent below the 1981 -2010 average—the smallest February sea ice extent since satellite records began in 1979.

ANTARCTIC SEA ICE EXTENT
February 2016 sea ice extent was 9.5 percent below the 1981 -2010 average— the smallest February extent since 2011 and the sixth smallest February sea ice extent on record.

TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON
(February 7th-March 3rd 2016)
Maximum winds - 285 km/hr Winston was one of the strongest cyclones to make landfall on Fiji on record. Winston caused significant damage as it hit the island as a Category 5 storm.

FINLAND
Wetter-than-average conditions were observed across Finland in February.
Some locations received two to three times the monthly average. Overall, the nation had its second wettest February, behind 1990.

PACIFIC ISLANDS
Several Pacific Islands were experiencing devastating drought conditions. Several U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands had record or near-record dryness during February 2016. The dry conditions experienced in the Marshall Islands forced the government to issue a State of Disaster.

NORTH AMERICA
February 2016 was the warmest February since 2000 and the fourth warmest since continental records began in 1910.

CONTIGUOUS UNITES STATES
Warmer to much-warmer-than average conditions engulfed much of the contiguous U.S. during February 2016. This was the warmest February since 2000 and the seventh warmest since national records began in 1895. Drought conditions deteriorated across the Southern Plains and Southwest.

ALASKA
Alaska's February 2016 temperature was 6.9°C (12.4°F) above average. This was the warmest February since statewide records began in 1925.

EUROPE
Europe had its second warmest February since 1910, behind 1990. Much of central and northern parts of Europe had above-average precipitation.

AFRICA
Africa had its second warmest February since 1910, behind 2010.

SOUTH AMERICA
Much-warmer-than-average conditions were present across most of the continent, with some locations experiencing record warmth. This resutled in the warmest February since 1910.
Much of northern and northeastern South America had below-average precipitation, meanwhile much of southern South America had wetter-than-average conditions during February 2016.

AUSTRALIA
Warmer and drier-than-average conditions were present across much of Australia. Overall, Australia had its ninth warmest February. New South Wales had its driest February since 1978.    J

NEW ZEALAND
Temperatures were much-above-average, resulting in the second warmest February and second warmest month for any month on record, behind February 1988.

ASIA
Warmer-than-average conditions were present across much of the western Asia. Some locations experienced temperatures 5°C or greater above average. Cooler-than-average conditions were present across parts of northeastern Russia and parts of China. Overall, Asia had its third warmest February since 1910.