February 2026 has been noted for its deviations from the norm, as reported by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. According to the European Climate Service Copernicus, it was the fifth warmest February recorded globally, with an average temperature of 13.26 degrees Celsius. This marks a significant increase of 0.53 degrees from the average temperature during the climate reference period of 1991-2020 and 1.59 degrees higher than the pre-industrial average, which spans from 1850 to 1900.

In Europe, weather patterns were warmer than usual in Western, Southern, and Southeastern regions, while Fennoscandia, the Baltics, and Northwestern Russia experienced colder conditions. Overall, European land areas were slightly cooler compared to the averages from 1991 to 2000, highlighting regional variations in climate trends during the month.

Additionally, the average sea surface temperature for February was reported as the second highest on record at 20.88 degrees Celsius, only surpassed by the temperature recorded in February 2025. These findings illustrate the ongoing climate changes and variability that are becoming increasingly apparent in meteorological data, raising concerns about future weather patterns and their implications for ecosystems and human activities.