October 2025: Third-warmest October on record for the globe; above-average global tropical cyclone activity
October Highlights:
- The global surface temperature for October 2025 was the third warmest on record.
- Below-average snow cover extent in North America and Greenland contrasted with Eurasia’s near-average snow cover extent.
- Both poles saw below-average sea ice extent.
- Global tropical cyclone activity was above average with 18 named storms.
Temperature
The global surface temperature for October 2025 was 2.21°F (1.23°C) higher than the 20th-century baseline, ranking as the third-warmest October since global records began in 1850. Only two Octobers were warmer (2023 and 2024). All 10 of the warmest Octobers on record have occurred since 2015. Looking at the year-to-date, the January–October global surface temperature was the second-highest on record, trailing behind the same period in 2024. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2025 will rank among the three warmest years on record. However, it is very unlikely that it will rank as the warmest year on record.
In October, temperatures were above average across most of the globe. The most notable temperature departures were observed across the Northern Hemisphere’s high and mid-latitudes, as well as Australia and Antarctica. Several regions experienced their warmest October on record, including North America, the Arctic region, the Antarctic region and Oceania. In addition, both South America and Africa had a top-10 warm October. Europe and Asia also had an above-average October temperature; however, they did not rank among their 10 warmest on record.
Below-average temperatures were limited to a few areas. These included a large swath of central and northeastern Asia, the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and smaller pockets in southern Africa, south-central Europe and parts of South America.
Snow Cover
The Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent in October was 450,000 square miles below average, ranking in the middle range of the historical record. Snow cover over North America and Greenland was below average (by 510,000 square miles), the fifth-smallest October in the 58-year record. Eurasia on the other hand saw near-average snow cover extent. A lack of snow cover was particularly obvious over much of North America, western Russia and across parts of western and southern China. Above-average snow cover extent was observed across much of Mongolia, the eastern half of Russia and across parts of southern China.
Sea Ice
Global sea ice extent was the third smallest for October in the historical record at 940,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. The Antarctic sea ice extent for October was also the third-smallest at 490,000 square miles below average. The Arctic sea ice extent was below average by 450,000 square miles, the eighth-smallest October extent in the 47-year record.
Tropical Cyclones
Globally, tropical cyclone activity was above normal in October, producing a total of 18 named storms. Of these, nine reached tropical cyclone strength, and two intensified into major tropical cyclones. The majority of the activity occurred in the Northern Hemisphere: the Atlantic (six), East Pacific (four), West Pacific (four) and North Indian (three) oceans.
Hurricane Melissa was one of the month’s most significant storms. In the Atlantic Basin, it peaked as a Category 5 hurricane. By wind speed and pressure, it tied with the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record.
As is typical for October, the Southern Hemisphere was quiet with only one named storm—Severe Tropical Storm Chenge—formed in the South Indian basin.
For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our October 2025 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.
