A flurry of crunching weather observations from around the globe confirmed that 2025 was another one of the warmest years in modern record, with staggering heat for millions, including residents of Utah and Nevada.
Leading weather and climate organizations announced on Jan. 13 and 14 that 2025 was the fourth warmest year on record in the United States and the third warmest year worldwide since records began in 1850.
The higher than normal temperatures extend an “unprecedented run of global heat,” said Berkeley Earth, a California-based independent nonprofit dedicated to advancing “open, transparent climate science.” Even though it's only January, Berkeley Earth's scientists expect a similarly warm year for 2026, although it's not likely to exceed the warmth of the last three years.
Globally, the 2025 annual average temperature was 58.59 degrees, roughly 2.6 degrees above the average between 1850 and 1900. The year was just slightly cooler than 2024, the hottest year on record, and just barely cooler than 2023, which held onto its spot as the second warmest.
Across the contiguous United States, the temperature averaged 54.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees above the 20th century average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
