February 2024 marked the ninth consecutive month of record-breaking global heat, with soaring temperatures observed not only on land but also in the world's oceans. The European Union climate agency Copernicus reported that sea surface temperatures in February surpassed all previous records, exceeding even the peak reached in August 2023.
February 2024 averaged 13.54 degrees Celsius (56.37 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking the previous record set in 2016 by a significant margin. This increase in temperature is part of a long-term warming trend, with February being 1.77 degrees Celsius (3.19 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the late 19th century.
