Climate Change's Persistent Heat: November 2025's Global Warm Streak Continues
November 2025 was Earth's third-warmest November since 1850, according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. NASA and the European Copernicus Climate Change Service also ranked it as the third-hottest November, following the record-breaking years of 2023 and 2024. But here's the intriguing part: this ranking was achieved without the influence of a planet-warming El Niño event, which was a significant factor in the extreme temperatures of 2023 and 2024.
This November marked the sixth consecutive month to rank as the third-warmest for that month in 176 years. While it may not be a record-breaker, it's a notable achievement considering the absence of El Niño. Global land and ocean areas experienced their fourth-warmest November, while Europe and North America had their second-warmest, Africa its eighth-warmest, and Asia and South America their ninth-warmest.
The September-November period, which corresponds to fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere, was the third-hottest on record, again behind 2023 and 2024. This consistency in high temperatures is a cause for concern.
The 1.5°C Threshold Looms Large:
NOAA reports that the year-to-date period (January-November) is the second-warmest on record, a mere 0.01°C (0.02°F) above the same period in 2023 and 0.1°C (0.2°F) below 2024. The European Copernicus Climate Change Service predicts that 2025 will end up as the second- or third-warmest year, with the average global temperature for 2023-2025 surpassing the critical 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This would be the first three-year average to breach this threshold in the instrumental period.
The Paris Agreement doesn't specify the duration of a 1.5°C breach, but a study in Nature Climate Change argues that even a single year at 1.5°C indicates a 20-year period above this level is likely, unless significant emission reductions occur. The World Meteorological Organization is addressing this challenge by convening experts to define and track a 1.5°C breach.
Controversy and Uncertainty:
The UN Environment Programme's Emissions Gap 2025 Report highlights the inevitability of a long-term breach, with UNEP's Inger Andersen stating that the multi-decadal average will exceed 1.5°C within the next decade. But is this a temporary overshoot, or a new normal? And what does it mean for our climate commitments?
Regional Heatwave Highlights:
In the contiguous U.S., November was the fourth-warmest on record, with five states experiencing their warmest November ever. Fall 2025 was the third-warmest, with 23 states in the top 10 warmest. The year-to-date period is the fifth-warmest, led by Utah with its second-warmest year-to-date.
Tornadoes and La Niña:
November saw 14 tornadoes in the U.S., with no EF2 or stronger. The year-to-date total is the fourth-highest since 2010. La Niña conditions are expected to end in early 2026, according to NOAA, with neutral conditions likely by then.
Arctic and Antarctic Ice Melting:
Arctic sea ice extent in November was the second-lowest on record, with the Arctic experiencing its second-warmest November. Antarctic sea ice extent was the fourth-lowest. These ice losses are concerning indicators of climate change.
Global Temperature Extremes:
November 2025 saw remarkable temperature extremes, with the Northern Hemisphere reaching 43.0°C (109.4°F) in Vinoramas and -51.4°C (-60.5°F) in Greenland. The Southern Hemisphere hit 46.8°C (116.2°F) in Australia and -55.0°C (-67.0°F) in Antarctica.
All-Time Heat Records:
Manokwari, Indonesia, set a new all-time heat record in November. Nine nations or territories broke or tied all-time heat records in 2025, including the Maldives, Togo, Turkey, Kosovo, Brunei, Japan, UAE, Martinique, and St. Eustatius. Additionally, 70 nations or territories set or tied monthly heat records, totaling 82 monthly records.
Hemispherical and Continental Records:
South America saw its highest-ever temperature in February, reaching 46.5°C (115.7°F) in Argentina. Africa recorded its highest minimum temperature in November, with 31.9°C (89.4°F) in South Africa. These records highlight the global reach of climate change.
As we navigate the complexities of climate change, the persistent heat of November 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. The question remains: how can we collectively address this global issue and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come?
