Russia experienced the second-warmest year on record in 2025, with a temperature anomaly of +1.24 degrees Celsius, according to a recent report by the state weather agency, Rosgidromet. Only 2020, which saw an anomaly of +2.03 C, was warmer.
The report detailed particularly significant warming trends in the Arctic region, where last winter and fall were the warmest since 1951, and spring was the third-warmest over the same period. Russia’s Central Federal District and the Volga Federal District both registered record high temperatures for the year. With the exception of the Far Eastern Federal District, every other Russian federal district experienced average temperatures ranking among the five highest since 1936.
The increased temperatures coincided with a record-breaking year for precipitation across Russia, with 110% more rainfall than average, according to the environmental news website Kedr, which first reported on the Rosgidromet findings.
These findings align with broader global trends; the global average surface temperature in 2025 reached 14.97 C, making it the third-warmest year on record. Over the past decade, Russia’s temperatures have risen by 0.51 C, exceeding the global average increase of 0.2 C during the same timeframe.
Climate scientists have consistently warned that Russia, a major emitter of greenhouse gases and a significant exporter of fossil fuels, is increasingly susceptible to extreme weather events, including heat waves and heavy rainfall. The Arctic, warming at a rate several times faster than the global average, is particularly vulnerable, as highlighted by recent reports noting the region experienced its hottest day ever recorded.
Amidst these climate concerns, construction has begun on a new polar research facility intended to be a “flagship” for Russian polar research, according to The Barents Observer. The project is proceeding as Russia continues to expand its Arctic monitoring capabilities through the Arktika satellite network, as reported by RussianSpaceWeb.com.
The Moscow Times, recently designated an “undesirable” organization by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, continues to report on these developments despite facing increasing restrictions and risks to its staff.
