Marine heatwave Bulletin
Forecasts for 24 January 2025 ​

Key takeaways

  • Mediterranean Sea – marine heatwave in the western side intensifies, whereas the event currently present in the eastern side of the basin is decreasing in intensity.
  • North Pacific – the marine heatwave around the Philippines increases in intensity with strong category.
  • Southern Ocean – the marine heatwave between 50°E and 120°E increases in intensity with mostly strong category.
Waves

Marine heatwave categories

European Zone

Marine heatwave categories forecast for 24 January, 2026. European zone. Credit: Mercator Ocean International

Mediterranean Sea 

The marine heatwave in the western basin intensifies with strong category extent increasing and with locally severe category. The marine heatwave in the eastern basin decreases in extent and remains stable in terms of intensity, with moderate and strong categories still in place. 

North Atlantic 

The area covered by marine heatwaves in the Bay of Biscay, between Iceland and the British Isles, as well as in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea remains stable, with moderate and strong categories still occurring. 

Global Ocean

Marine heatwave categories forecast for 24 January, 2026. Global Ocean. Credit: Mercator Ocean International

North Atlantic 

The marine heatwaves present in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, decrease in extent and remain stable in terms of intensity, with moderate and strong categories still in place. The marine heatwave extending from the Antilles as far as the centre of the basin is stable in intensity and area with moderate and strong categories. 

 South Atlantic 

The marine heatwave between 15°S and 30°S decreases in intensity and in extent with few scattered areas with moderate categoryBetween 30°S and 40°S, the marine heatwave increases with strong category. 

North Pacific 

The marine heatwave in the center of the basin around 180°W and 50°N remains stable in terms of intensity, with moderate and strong categories. The marine heatwave around the Philippines increases in intensity with strong category. The marine heatwave in the center of the basin extending to the North American coast, decrease in terms of surface area with few scattered areas with moderate category 

South Pacific 

The marine heatwave along the coast of Chile are decreasing in extent. The marine heatwave around 100°W decreases in area and intensity with few scattered areas. The marine heatwave in North of New Zealand decreases in extent and intensity with few scattered areas with moderate category 

Southern Ocean

The marine heatwave between 50°E and 120°E increases in intensity with mostly strong category. 

Weekly temperature anomalies

Mean sea surface temperature anomalies forecast for the week 18-24 January 2026.
Mediterranean Sea 0 °C to 2.5°C 
North Atlantic <-3 °C to >3°C 
South Atlantic <-3°C to >3°C 
North Pacific <-3°C to >3°C 
South Pacific -2°C to 2°C  
Southern Ocean -0.5°C to 3°C 

Forecasts for 24 January 2025

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NOTES

Datasets and products: Global Ocean Physics Analysis and Forecast (sea surface temperature) E.U. Copernicus Marine Service/ Mercator Ocean International. https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00016