December 2025 was the 5th warmest globally
Global
According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the month of December was +0.49 °C warmer than the 1991–2020 average, with a mean surface air temperature of 13.15 °C, making it the 5th warmest December on record.
It was +1.42 °C above the estimated 1850–1900 average (pre-industrial level).
Europe
Accordingly with C3S data, the mean air temperature in Europe in December was 2.68 °C, +1.99 °C above the 1991–2020 average, making it the 4th warmest December on record in the continent.
Most of Europe experienced above-average temperatures, with the most pronounced anomalies observed in central Norway, Sweden and Iceland.
Across the Iberian Peninsula there was greater variability, with a mix of above- and below-average values. In northern Scandinavia, western Turkey, as well as in France and Germany, despite a cold spell at the end of the month, temperatures were close to or slightly above average.
In terms of precipitation, December 2025 was wetter than average in western Great Britain, across much of Norway, northern Sweden, Finland and north-western Russia. Above-average rainfall also affected Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal regions, including Portugal, southern Spain, southern France, north-western Italy and eastern Greece.
Storms during December caused flooding in south-west England and Wales, southern France and eastern Greece. On the other hand, drier-than-average conditions were observed across extensive areas of central and eastern Europe, including much of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland and Luxembourg, as well as large areas of Italy, most of the Balkans and western Turkey.
Figure 1. Anomalies (1991-2020 reference period) for mean sea level pressure and humidity transport, as well as rainfall percentages for december 2025. Source: C3S/ERA5
Mainland Portugal
In Portugal, December 2025 was classified as normal in terms of mean air temperature and wet in terms of precipitation.
Air Temperature
- It was the 11th warmest December since 2000, with a mean air temperature of 9.94 °C, +0.19 °C above the 1991–2020 normal.
- The mean maximum temperature, 13.85 °C, was 0.06 °C below average, while the mean minimum temperature, 6.04 °C, was 0.45 °C above normal.
- During the month, air temperature values (maximum, mean and minimum) were above the monthly average between 4 and 14 December, and below average on 21, 22, and from 24 to 27 December.
Precipitation
- It was the 7th wettest December since 2000.
- The total monthly rainfall in December, 157.8 mm, corresponds to 137% of the 1991–2020 average.
- Meteorological drought: The mild drought conditions that were still present at the end of November in the districts of Évora, Beja and Faro came to an end.
Other highlighted events
- A cold spell: The last ten days of the month were marked by air temperatures well below average, particularly minimum temperatures.
- On 26 December, 45% of weather stations recorded negative minimum temperatures.
- Snowfall: between 21 and 24 December it snowed above 400 metres in many locations in the North and Centre.
Have acess to the climate bulletin for december 2025 (portuguese version only): december 2025 - climate bulletin
Figure 2. Mountains covered in snow, nearby the city of Lousã (central Portugal). Picture credit: MeteoPT/@ALV72