No month has ever deviated so far from the long-term average. February 2024 would even rank 16th among the warmest March months on record.

As global warming progresses, above-average warm months have been occurring more frequently in recent years. But even in this context, February 2024 was exceptional. "Never in the 257-year history of measurements has a month deviated so far above its long-term average," says climatologist Alexander Orlik from GeoSphere Austria. "February 2024 was 5.5 degrees above the mean of the climate period 1991 to 2020 in Austria's lowlands, and 5.0 degrees above on the mountains."

Compared to the climate period 1961–1990, February was 6.4 degrees above the mean in the lowlands and 5.9 degrees above on the mountains.

Another comparison also illustrates just how unusual February was: "February 2024 was so mild that it would rank 16th among the warmest March months in the 257-year history of measurements," says climatologist Orlik.

New negative records for frost… find out more at GeoSphere Austria!

Also read the article "Warmer than March: February 2024 breaks records in Austria"