January 2026 ranks among warmest on record despite Northern Hemisphere cold waves
Copernicus said the global average surface air temperature reached 12.95°C, around 0.51°C above the 1991–2020 January average. The month was just 0.28°C cooler than January 2025, the warmest on record, and 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900).
Record-breaking heat in the Southern Hemisphere contributed to deadly wildfires in regions including Australia, Chile and Patagonia. Above-average temperatures were also recorded in the Arctic, Greenland, South America, North Africa and Antarctica.
At the same time, intense cold waves hit North America, Siberia and Europe. Europe experienced its coldest January since 2010, with average temperatures 2.34°C below normal.
Copernicus officials stressed that the contrasting extremes highlight the complexity of the climate system, where extreme cold and heat can occur simultaneously in different regions of the world.
