The Science Director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center, Roman Vilfand, told the TASS news agency that this year is likely to rank among the five hottest years on record. This outlook comes as researchers track a series of warming indicators across Russia and the wider Northern Hemisphere. The assessment cited by TASS highlights how contemporaneous weather data align with longer-term climate trends that are difficult to ignore. [TASS]
Experts point to a combination of factors driving the warmth. The concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen to levels that trap more heat, and the rate of change has not been halted in recent years. In parallel, the ocean remains unusually warm, and the upper layer of sea water continues to transfer heat upward. That heat reaching the atmosphere helps push air temperatures higher and serves as a bridge for energy moving from the ocean into the air above. The result is a pattern of sustained warmth that is visible in both daily conditions and seasonal averages.
Vilfand cautioned that a precise ranking for the year 2025 will emerge only in the second half of the year, when more comprehensive data become available and weather patterns settle into clearer seasonal trends. Until then, the forecast remains a strong warning that the year could sit among the record-holders for heat, rather than a certainty about its exact position.
At the start of March, data from national weather services indicated that the winter of 2024-2025 ranked second in Russia’s temperature history for air observations, with the 2019-2020 winter occupying the top spot. Analysts stressed that temperatures exceeded historical norms for a sustained period, signaling a marked departure from long-term averages. This pattern underscores how unusual warmth can extend across multiple months, influencing energy demand, transportation, and the broader environment.
Officials in the Moscow Region’s Ecology and Nature Administration have reported that the unusual warmth at the outset of 2025 affected local ecosystems and wildlife. In February, communities including Mytishchi observed shifts in ecological activity, with indicators such as earlier insect emergence, changes in plant phenology, and other stress signals in wildlife behavior. While the picture varies across habitats, the overall signal is that regional ecosystems are responding to warmer conditions in real time.
In the light of these developments, climate researchers note that there are broader, long-standing debates about possible geoengineering remedies. Some scientists have floated drastic ideas, including the use of a thermonuclear device to counter warming, though such proposals remain controversial and are widely regarded as scientifically and ethically problematic. The discussions underscore the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening adaptation strategies, rather than relying on drastic, unproven measures.
The Moscow region notes that similar warming signals are observed in other parts of the world, and experts emphasize that climate changes are a global affair. Cross-hemisphere patterns reflect a larger shift in the climate system, driven largely by human emissions and reinforced by natural variability. For residents of Canada and the United States, this translates into longer heat waves, more intense droughts in some regions, and shifting winter conditions that require planning and resilience across infrastructure, agriculture, and communities.
Finally, scientists stress the importance of ongoing monitoring and robust climate policy. The ability to anticipate extreme warmth, manage risks, and protect ecosystems depends on continued investment in observation networks, modeling, and public communication. The year 2025 may prove a test case for how well societies respond to rapid temperature changes and the accompanying impacts on water, energy, and health systems.