January 2026 was a month of extreme temperatures: cold waves and intense heat hit the world
January 2026 was, at the same time, one of the five warmest since records began and one of the coldest since 2010.
TL;DR
- January 2026 was globally the fifth warmest January on record, with an average surface air temperature of 12.95 °C.
- Northern hemisphere experienced an average land temperature of -2.34 °C, the coldest in over a decade.
- Extreme cold led to snow in Madrid and flight cancellations in North America and Europe.
- Intense heat affected the Southern Hemisphere, threatening Antarctica and causing wildfires in Chile and Australia.
- Colombia faced unusual heavy rains and floods due to moisture from Brazil, Pacific currents, and the Madden-Julian oscillation.
- The contrasting weather patterns fueled skepticism about global warming, with some questioning the phenomenon amid cold snaps.