Significant performance variation exists across the lateral extent of a fuel cell electrode as a consequence of interconnected factors including reactant pressure drop, membrane humidification and catalyst utilisation. This can result in heterogeneous degradation rates, diminishing its lifetime. Here, current and temperature mapping are coupled with localised cyclic voltammetry (electrochemical surface area (ECSA)) and linear sweep voltammetry (hydrogen crossover) to study performance degradation in a 100 cm2 fuel cell, subjected to voltage cycling simulating repetitive start-up/shutdown procedures. With increased cycling, the current distribution below mid-currents become more heterogeneous, whilst their temperature maps remain relatively uniform. At higher currents, rising temperatures homogenises the current profiles. ECSA loss declines non-linearly, with no discernible changes in hydrogen crossover. Degradation rates vary across the active area; with differing areas of highest ECSA and performance loss. Results suggests that deteriorating water management, over ECSA loss from the carbon support corrosion, is the main contribution to the performance deterioration.