Coolest February Since 1994 for Land Areas, According to NOAA's State of the Climate Global Report

Large areas of colder-than-average weather made February 2014 the coolest February since 1994 for the Earth's land areas, according to the monthly global State of the Climate report released Wednesday by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. At the same time, portions of the world's oceans experienced record February warmth.

Global temperatures expressed as a departure from the 20th-century average in degrees Celsius. Large areas of deep blue indicate colder-than-average conditions over North America and Central Asia. Red shades indicate above-average temperatures.

Land: Chilly February for Many Areas

The global temperature averaged over all land areas, but excluding the oceans, was still 0.31 Celsius degree (0.56 Fahrenheit degree) above the 20th-century average, making it the 44th-warmest February since 1880 over land. However, this was the lowest February reading since 1994, which was also the last cooler-than-average February over the earth's land masses.

The margin of error for the land measurement was 0.32 Celsius degree (0.58 Fahrenheit degree), indicating a very small possibility that the globally-averaged temperature over land may have actually been near or slightly below average.

Large areas of below-average temperatures over North America and Central Asia helped to temper the February figures. Parts of the U.S. Midwest and the Canadian province of Ontario registered one of the 10 coldest Februaries on record. Below-average temperatures also prevailed from Pakistan and Afghanistan northward through Kazakhstan and into western Siberia.

According to the NCDC report, land areas between 30 and 60 degrees North latitude – home to the vast majority of the world's developed countries – were actually cooler than the long-term February average, but not as cold as in February 2012.

There were a few pockets of warmth in the Northern Hemisphere, however. Parts of Norway and Finland registered the second-warmest February on record, behind 1990. The NCDC analysis also indicated record-warm conditions over far eastern Russia.

Southern Hemisphere temperatures were generally unremarkable in February, though overall it was the 12th-warmest February on record over Southern Hemisphere land areas.

This map shows how global temperatures in February 2014 stack up against the historical record. The deepest red (blue) shades indicate record warm (cold) temperatures, while lighter shades indicate less extreme warmth (chill). As different climates have different temperature ranges, this map indicates how extreme February 2014 was compared to long-term conditions.

Oceans: Still Very Warm

The globally-averaged sea surface temperature was the seventh-warmest on record for the month of February, coming in 0.45 Celsius degree (0.81 Fahrenheit degree) above the 20th-century average, with a very small margin of error.

According to the report, Northern Hemisphere oceans outside the tropics – i.e., north of 20 degrees latitude – were warmer last month than in any other February on record.

Meanwhile, in the tropics, where scientists are monitoring for the possibility of an El Nino developing later this year, February ocean temperatures were the 18th-warmest on record for the month.

Globally: Warm Streak Continues

For the Earth as a whole, including both land and ocean areas, 2014 tied 2001 as the 21st-warmest February on record, with a global average temperature 0.41 Celsius degree (0.74 Fahrenheit degree) above the 20th-century average. The margin of error for this measurement was 0.12 Celsius degree (0.22 Fahrenheit degree).

The global reading was substantially cooler than last February, which was the eighth-warmest on record globally; but it was slightly warmer than February 2012.

This was the 29th consecutive February and 348th consecutive month overall with a global temperature above the 20th-century average. The last time any month was cooler than the 20th-century average was February 1985.

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