Asia warming nearly twice global average, WMO warns in new report

Asia is warming at nearly twice the global average rate, with extreme heat, flooding and droughts increasingly becoming the norm, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The State of the Climate in Asia 2025 report, cited by 24.kg, says 2025 was among the hottest years ever recorded across the continent, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

It highlights a sharp rise in climate extremes, including prolonged heatwaves, heavy rainfall events and widespread water stress.

The WMO said all 23 monitored glaciers in High Mountain Asia continued to lose mass in 2025, driven by above-average temperatures and reduced winter snowfall.

The organisation warned this trend could threaten long-term water availability for millions of people across Central Asia, where glacier-fed rivers are a key source of supply.

Ocean temperatures around Asia also reached record levels, with marine heatwaves affecting more than 10 million square kilometres of sea during the summer months. Scientists say this poses increasing risks to fisheries, coral ecosystems and coastal communities.

The report also recorded extreme heat across parts of East Asia, including Japan, China and South Korea, alongside severe flooding in several regions and worsening drought conditions in parts of the Middle East.

By Aghakazim Guliyev