India, March 10 -- The month of February 2026 was the fifth warmest on record globally, with Western Europe witnessing extreme rainfall and widespread flooding. The Arctic recorded the third-lowest sea ice extent for this month, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), said in a statement.

There were intense storms and precipitation across France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, leading to severe flooding that caused widespread damage and loss of life and livelihoods. February also saw severe flooding in other parts of the world, including Australia, Mozambique, and Botswana.

"The extreme events of February 2026 highlight the growing impacts of climate chang...