The UK’s Rainy Start to 2026 

The UK has seen its sixth wettest winter on record. 2026 has been characterised with consecutive days of rain, broken up only by short intervals. The Cornish village of Cardinham experienced a relentless 50 days of rain, according to the Met Office. 

Southward surges of Arctic air have clashed with the (relatively) ‘warmer’ air in the USA and Canada, directing a strong jet stream towards Western Europe. Jet streams are narrow bands of rapid, high-altitude winds. As they speed up or spread apart, jet streams act as a vacuum that ‘sucks’ air into their stream and creates areas of low pressure in the upper atmosphere. These low-pressure systems draw air up from the lower atmosphere; any moisture in the air also rises, cools and condenses into clouds, leading to rain. Moist air drawn from across the Atlantic Ocean has struck the UK, Spain and Portugal with a deluge of wet weather.  

Not only has the jet stream been more powerful, but it has also shifted to the south. This effect, alongside a high-pressure block over Scandinavia (again caused by southerly surges of arctic air), has ‘trapped’ low-pressure rain systems over the UK. Unable to pass across the UK, these stalling low-pressure systems have led to frequent and sustained rainfall. 

Particularly, Southwest England, Eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland have been subjected to much higher rainfall, whereas areas such as Western Scotland have received less rain than usual. As of Monday, 49 flood warnings (flooding expected) and 105 flood alerts (flooding possible) are still in force across England. 

The Met Office says global warming means wetter winters and drier summers for the UK. For every 1°C rise in air temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture. This can create heavier rainfall. “When it rains, it rains more,” wryly comments Professor Ed Hawkins, climate scientist at the University of Reading.  

The increase in wet winters will have significant impacts for housing, transport and food supply. The Environment Agency has estimated that by 2050, one in four properties will be at risk from flooding. A third of railways are also at risk of flooding, leading to delays, cancellations and damaged infrastructure. 

Although temperatures are starting to become milder, the Met predicts that – most unfortunately – we may not see prolonged dry weather until the middle of March. 

By Marina Milsum, February 26, 2026.

Edited by Gabriella Ziobro.