Hottest Jan ever as La Nina fails to moderate temps 

Hottest Jan ever as La Nina fails to moderate temps ByJayashree Nandi Feb 07, 2025 06:16 AM IST Share Via Copy Link January’s average surface air temperature reached 13.23°C, soaring 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, according to data released on Thursday by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service Global temperatures shattered records again in the first month of this year as January became the warmest ever recorded, marking an unprecedented 18th month out of the last 19 that were above a critical climate threshold despite cooling La Nina conditions that typically moderate global heat. Some experts said a weaker La Nina could be indicative of a stronger effect of the climate crisis – the long-term warming of the atmosphere. (HT File) January’s average surface air temperature reached 13.23°C, soaring 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, according to data released on Thursday by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The reading breaches the 1.5°C threshold of warming that scientists warn could trigger catastrophic climate impacts if sustained. Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, described January 2025 as “another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures.” The twelve-month period from February 2024 to January 2025 averaged 0.73°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.61°C above the estimated 1850-1900 pre-industrial levels, intensifying concerns about meeting Paris Agreement targets aimed at limiting global temperature rise. Regional temperature patterns revealed stark variations across the globe. While northeast and northwest Canada, Alaska, Siberia, southern South America, Africa, much of Australia, and Antarctica experienced above-average temperatures, significant below-average readings were recorded in the United States, easternmost regions of Russia (including Chukotka and Kamchatka), the Arabian Peninsula, and mainland Southeast Asia. Experts said the trend could continue. “The La Nina is not strong enough to impact temperatures globally. Global warming trend is also very high. Similar records may continue for a few months,” said M Rajeevan, former secretary of India’s ministry of earth sciences and climate scientist. La Niña — a cyclical phenomenon in which the waters in central and eastern Pacific are cooler than usual — brings broader changes to global weather patterns, affecting winds, pressure, and rainfall across the tropical Pacific. In regions like India, it typically brings stronger monsoons and colder winters, while its counterpart, El Niño, often leads to harsher summers and weaker monsoons. Generally, La Niña leads to lower average global temperatures. Some experts said a weaker La Nina could