The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that monthly temperatures remained above average over much of the globe, including the Arctic, Greenland, and western North America. However, the Northern Hemisphere experienced severe cold waves due to a meandering polar jet stream, according to research drawing on 11 sources. An Arctic blast brought heavy snow and widespread ice across Europe, disrupting travel and services.
Temperatures in northern Sweden and Finland fell well below minus 30°C, with Sweden recording around minus 40°C in the far north. 4°C. Britain issued amber cold-weather alerts, with the coldest night of the winter so far recorded in eastern England.
The Netherlands issued a yellow alert for slippery roads; France placed 26 departments under orange snow and ice warnings; Germany reported widespread frost. Poland issued snow and frost warnings, with up to 25 cm of snow expected in southern regions and nighttime temperatures as low as minus 18°C. Romania, Hungary, Croatia, and Bulgaria issued weather warnings for snow, freezing rain, strong winds, and hazardous roads.
Italy issued orange and yellow weather alerts for more than 10 regions after reporting the coldest weather in about 15 years in the north. Spain's Storm Francis brought heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding, particularly in southern regions. Transport disruption included suspended rail networks in Sweden, flight disruptions in Finland, and Eurostar advising travelers to delay trips.
France saw severe congestion in Paris with traffic jams exceeding 1,000 km; airlines were ordered to cut flights by 15% at main airports. KLM canceled nearly 300 flights in the Netherlands, and rail services were reduced. In Sweden, SMHI issued red, orange, and yellow warnings for snowfall.
A red warning for snowfall and wind applied to coastal Ångermanland, Västernorrland County, with advice not to travel due to high risk of stranding. Orange warnings applied to parts of Västernorrland County and Västra Götaland County, with advice to avoid unnecessary travel and expect power outages. February 2026 has been unusually cold in Sweden, with snow warnings in Skåne, people walking on Lake Mälaren in Stockholm, and below-normal temperatures in the north, according to SMHI meteorologist Viktor Bergman.
A long-term high-pressure blockage caused the cold period in Sweden; if it occurs in summer, it can drive up temperatures as in 2018, said Martin Hedberg, climate expert at Länsförsäkringar. Hedberg noted that the cold in Sweden, eastern US, and northern Europe may be due to global warming affecting the jet stream, but more research is needed. This contrasts with the record-breaking heat in the Southern Hemisphere, which fueled wildfires in Australia, Chile, and Patagonia.
5°C on 26 January 2026, a new record for that location, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Climate change made the 5-10 January 2026 Australian heatwave more likely, according to World Weather Attribution scientists. The heatwave caused forest fires, algal blooms, impacts on reindeer herding, health care, and drowning accidents, a World Weather Attribution study found.
Finland experienced 22 consecutive days with temperatures above 30°C, the longest series ever recorded there. Heavy rains in Southern Africa in late January 2026 led to severe flooding, especially in Mozambique. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said disaster-related deaths are six times lower in countries with good early warning coverage.
Europe is currently the fastest-warming continent, with extreme weather events expected to increase, according to a European Environment Agency report. 56°C per decade since the mid-1990s, faster than any other continent, the EU’s Copernicus and WMO report stated. Annual sea surface temperatures in Europe reached the highest levels recorded, while snow cover fell by 31% and snow mass by 45% from average.
Svalbard has heated at three to four times the average European rate. 7% more than the previous record in 2017. The Iberian peninsula suffered the worst wildfires due to a dry summer after a wet spring; Spain accounted for 38% of the European burned area.
The Greenland ice sheet lost 139 gigatons of ice in 2025, raising global sea levels by nearly half a millimetre. A record 86% of European ocean experienced strong heatwaves in 2025, with 36% experiencing severe or extreme heat. The Nordic heatwave in July pushed temperatures above 30°C in the Arctic Circle, with 21 days of hot weather leading to tropical nights in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
In Sweden, 94% of respondents say it is important for their country to adapt to climate change, and 85% agree that spending on climate adaptation is required urgently to avoid higher future costs, according to the EIB Climate Survey. Swedish respondents rank climate change as the third-biggest challenge facing their country, after cost of living and security. Sweden experienced its most severe wildfires in modern history between May and August 2018, burning around 250 km².
In summer 2023, Sweden was hit by intense heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 26°C, raising health concerns and fire risk, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute reported. Most Swedish government agencies are complying with the Climate Adaptation Ordinance, but face growing resource shortages and need enhanced coordination and long-term financing, according to an SMHI 2024 summary report. November and December 2025 were very mild in Sweden, especially December which was extreme, Bergman noted.
Global warming increases the likelihood of certain types of extreme weather, but directly linking a single event to climate change is difficult, SMHI stated. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor, leading to more frequent and intense precipitation. Sweden receives almost one-fifth more rainfall than a hundred years ago, and the number of days with snow cover has decreased.
SMHI uses advanced models to project future climate developments, including tipping points. Exceeding tipping points like Greenland ice sheet melt can lead to dramatic climate changes and cascade effects. World Weather Attribution launched a report summarizing extreme weather studies in 2024.
5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the Copernicus climate service. 01°C cooler. The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change is making progress, assessed every six months through Barometer Updates.
However, the EU is only partially on track to achieve its 2030 climate, environment, and sustainability objectives, an EEA monitoring report found. Over half of EEA countries monitor and take action on heat and health.