If it feels like your umbrella has been glued to your hand over the last few weeks, you’re not wrong.
The Met Office has confirmed that last month was one of the wettest Januarys on record in Britain – with 17 per cent more rain than usual.
The wet and windy weather arrived thanks to a series of Atlantic low–pressure systems sweeping across the UK.
Northern Ireland was particularly wet, with data confirming that the country experienced its wettest January in 149 years – and its second wettest on record.
‘January has been exceptionally wet because we’ve seen a very persistent Atlantic weather pattern,’ explained Met Office science manager Dr Amy Doherty.
‘A strong jet stream has repeatedly steered low–pressure systems towards the UK, bringing frequent spells of rain and wind.
‘With little opportunity for drier conditions in between, the ground has become saturated, so even moderate rainfall has had a greater impact.
‘This succession of Atlantic systems is the main reason rainfall totals this month are well above average for many areas.’
The Met Office has confirmed that last month was one of the wettest Januarys on record in Britain – with 17 per cent more rain than usual
If it feels like your umbrella has been glued to your hand over the last few weeks, you’re not wrong. Pictured: pedestrians near Big Ben on 27 January
Overall, the UK recorded 17 per cent more rainfall than the long–term meteorological average, according to the Met Office.
Northern Ireland had 70 per cent more rain than average, while England experienced 50 per cent more than avarege.
However, there was a clear north–south divide in England.
Northern England recorded just 10 per cent more rain than average, while the south of the country was battered with 74 per cent more than avarege.
However, it was a very different story over in Scotland, where there was actually below–average rainfall.
At a county–level, Cornwall and County Down experienced their wettest January on record, with County Londonderry, Dorset, Kincardineshire, Angus, Hampshire, Devon and Surrey all recording their second wettest January since 1836.
The most notable day for rainfall was 26 January, when Storm Chandra swept Britain.
On this day, Katesbridge in County Down recorded a staggeirng 100.8mm of rain – almost tripling the previous site record of 38.2 mm from 2005.
As well as being wet, January was also a particularly cold month. While temperatures rose during the second half of the month, the UK’s average temperature for January was 0.5°C below average
Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon recorded 52.8mm of rain, while Hurn in Dorset, Cardinham in Cornwall and Plymouth Mountbatten in Devon all exceeded their previous daily records.
As well as being wet, January was also a particularly cold month.
While temperatures rose during the second half of the month, the UK’s average temperature for January was 0.5°C below average.
The news comes shortly after the Met Office confirmed that 2025 was Britain’s hottest year on record.
The average temperature in the UK last year was a balmy 10.09°C, which is 0.96°C above the long–term average.
2025 joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years since 1884.
According to the Met Office, this is a ‘clear demonstration of the impacts of climate change’.
Dr Mark McCarthy, head of climate attribution at the Met Office, said: ‘We’re increasingly seeing UK temperatures break new ground in our changing climate, as demonstrated by a new highest UK mean temperature record just three years after the last record.
‘This very warm year is in line with expected consequences of human–induced climate change.
‘Although it doesn’t mean every year will be the warmest on record, it is clear from our weather observations and climate models that human–induced global warming is impacting the UK’s climate.’
