The second hottest April month ever, for almost two years more than 1.5 degrees warmer

It was only 0.07 degrees Celsius cooler in April than in April 2024. With a temperature that was 1.51 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, it was also the 21st of the last 22 months in which the temperature exceeded that lower limit of the Paris climate agreement.

A surface temperature of 9.38 degrees Celsius was measured in Europe in April. This made it the sixth hottest April month ever on the European continent. Especially in Eastern Europe, Western Russia, Kazakhstan and Norway it was warmer than normal, while in Turkey, the eastern parts of Bulgaria and Romania, on Crimea and in Northern Scandinavia, it was colder than normal.

In addition, it was also drier than average in the lion’s share of Central Europe, Great Britain, southern Fennoscandinavia and part of Eastern Europe. In Southern Europe, the north of Norway, the south of Finland and parts of Western Russia, it rained more than usual, just like in the Alps where the heavy rainfall led to floods, landslides and avalanches.

It also remained warm at sea. With 20.89 degrees Celsius, the sea surface temperature was at the second highest level ever, 0.15 degrees Celsius lower than April 2024. Especially in the northeastern North Atlantic Ocean and the lion’s share of the Mediterranean Sea, it was warmer than usual.