January 2026 saw temperatures slightly below average and a very wet month. The month featured three storms Storm Ingrid, Storm Chandra and storm Goretti none of which had much of an impact locally. The month didn't make the top twenty coldest or warmest months but made the top twenty wettest coming in at 11th. The month features a failed easterly which never made the reliable time frame yet was modelled consistently for the last two weeks in January. It was a good demonstration of models over estimating the block to the East and strength of the jet stream due to a cold air mass over America meeting a very warm air mass and firing up the jet. It also continued the modern quirk of mild December greater than 6C meaning a cold winter will not follow.
The month overall had very little temperatures variation just 8 degrees from the mildest day to the coldest day. Night time temperatures overall offset the below average Day time temperatures this mainly being due to the amount of cloud around. The only real cold spell was from the 1st to the 10th. This period saw the coldest day a mere 1.6C and a more respectable night time low of -3.9C on the 5th followed by -3.1C on the 6th. Two further air frosts came on the 10th and 11th. That was the last of the air frosts. Night time temperatures from the 16th to the 25th were above average with the mildest night being the 20th with 6.5C. There wasn't any mild spells in January so now double figures. It was rather mild from the 11th to the 13th when 9.6C on the 11th was the mildest day of the month followed by 9.3C the next day. It was rather mild again on the 19th and 21st just. 9.1C being reached on the 20th. Rather mild nights kept the overall average generally above normal from the 22nd to the end of the month although there were one or two coldish days.
January was a wet month with above average rainfall despite only 6.6mm being recorded in the first seven days with Yorkshire Water making noises about having to save water again for the coming summer. The dry start came to an abrupt end on the 8th when 22.1mm fell as rain and wet snow. This was courtesy of Storm Goretti. It rained every day until the 28th but only reached double figures twice with 16.8mm on the 21st and 14mm on the 26th. Further rain between the 29th and the 31st pushed the month to the 11th wettest on record. There were only five dry days so in one sense you could have expected an even wetter month. The storms has very little impact which is normally the case.
January continued the decline in windy weather and was a very quiet month with winds failing to reach 40mph mark through out the month. Considering it was a fairly active Atlantic during the first 2/3 of the month this was a bit of a surprise and goes against the increase of stormy weather we keep hearing.
There was some rare Snow in January with Snow falling on the 1st, 4th and the 22nd to the 10th and on the 30th which was a bit of surprise as Snow reached quite low levels despite modelling suggesting the highest ground only. The 8th brought 7.7cm by the morning of the 9th and that was it for the month. The depth on the 30th was 1cm before steadily melting. Sleet did fall for the 6th so another Winter month goes by with a lack of Snow.
We did manage 7th air frosts the sharpest of which were from the 4th to the 6th and the 10th to 11th.
February starting on much the same note as January ended. The 2nd week may see a weak easterly setup so slightly drier but with some showers wintry over high ground. After mid month the Atlantic fires up again but this time Low pressure going to the n of the uK rather than the S with the weather turning milder and changeable. Windy at times as well. This pattern continuing until the end of the month. Overall an average to above average month temperature wise with above average rainfall once again.
| January's Averages, Highs and Lows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Average Temp 4.4C | Last Months Average 3.6C | Difference from average -0.8C |
| Average Max Temp 7.1C | Last Months Average 5.7C | Difference from average -1.4C |
| Average Min Temp 1.7C | Last Months Average 1.6C | Difference From Average -0.1C |
| High Max 9.6C on the 11th | Low Max 1.6C on the 5th | Highest Daily Range 11.2C on the 11th |
| High Min 9.0C on the 10th | Low Min -3.9C on the 5th | Lowest Daily Range 1.7C on the 8th |
| Number of Air Frosts 7 | Days of Thunder 0 | Days of Snow 6 |
| Days of Measurable Rain 25 Days | Days of Rain with trace 2 Days | Days with Gusts ≥ 50 mph 0 day |
| Average Rainfall 74.4mm | This Months Average 130.1mm | Percentage of Average Rainfall 174.9% |