Arctic endured year of record heat as climate scientists warn of ‘winter being redefined’
Region known as ‘world’s refrigerator’ is heating up as much as four times as quickly as global average, Noaa experts say
TL;DR
- Arctic temperatures were the hottest in 125 years of record keeping from October 2024 to September 2025.
- The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average due to fossil fuel combustion.
- The maximum sea ice extent in 2025 was the lowest recorded in 47 years of satellite data.
- 2025 saw record precipitation in the Arctic, with much falling as rain and less as snow.
- Changes in the Arctic, such as rain freezing on snow, hinder wildlife foraging and create hazardous conditions for people.
- The melting Greenland ice sheet lost 129 billion tons of ice in 2025, contributing to global sea level rise.