The start of 2025 has been marked by extreme temperature contrasts across the world. While the United States experienced its coldest January since 1988, the planet as a whole recorded its warmest January ever. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that Arctic air masses pushed temperatures well below normal across much of the U.S., leading to widespread snowfall and record-breaking cold. Meanwhile, data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that global temperatures soared, continuing the alarming trend of rising planetary heat.
According to NOAA, the average temperature in the U.S. during January 2025 was 29.23 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the coldest January in 37 years. This figure narrowly surpassed the previous record set in January 2011 (29.71 degrees) and was significantly lower than the 1991-2020 climate normals. Several states, including West Virginia and Alabama, experienced one of their coldest Januarys in recorded history.
The brutal cold was accompanied by heavy snowfall, leading to the shattering of over 5,000 daily snow and cold temperature records nationwide. A staggering 4,630 daily record-low temperatures were either tied or broken, along with nearly 900 snowfall records. Several regions, particularly in the South, witnessed rare snow events, with Louisiana and Florida reportedly breaking state all-time 24-hour snowfall records.
This extreme cold marked a stark departure from the recent trend of milder winters in the U.S. In fact, it was the first month in over a year where the country recorded below-normal temperatures.
A Record-Breaking January for the Globe
Despite the freezing conditions in parts of the U.S., the global climate continued its alarming warming trend. Copernicus reported that January 2025 was the hottest January ever recorded worldwide. Many regions, including Europe, Africa, and Asia, experienced significant temperature anomalies, with some areas seeing heat far above their historical averages.
Climate scientists suggest that this global warming trend is driven by human-induced climate change, with rising greenhouse gas emissions leading to more frequent and intense heat waves. While the U.S. endured a temporary cold spell, the overall warming of the planet remains a serious concern, reinforcing the urgency of climate action.
As NOAA prepares to release its global temperature analysis, experts expect that it will confirm Copernicus’ findings, further emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and mitigation efforts. The stark contrast between the U.S.’s winter freeze and the planet’s record warmth serves as a reminder of the complex and evolving nature of climate change.
