Due to rising global temperatures, February has broken monthly records, becoming the hottest month in more than a century. According to NASA, the global surface temperature measured on the land and ocean was 1.35°C higher than the previously recorded average, measured from the 1951-1980 baseline. February has broken January's record which was 1.14°C warmer as compared to the baseline average calculated for that month.

The phenomenon has been attributed to the ever-increasing effect of greenhouse gases and also to El Nino. In comparison to El Nino's 1997-98 record, the current temperatures have witnessed a rise of 0.5 degrees.

Experts have declared a state of 'climate emergency' and are concerned about the "frightening pace toward the globally agreed maximum of 2.0°C warming over pre-industrial levels."