Editor‘It’s rained every day this year’: South Wales soaked as January hits 156% of normal rainfall
New Met Office figures show Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire were among the UK’s wettest regions in January, recording 156% of the long‑term average rainfall.
The relentless downpours have left the ground saturated, meaning even modest showers are now causing flooding, travel disruption and difficult driving conditions.
A yellow weather warning for rain is in force, with forecasters expecting 20–30mm widely and more than 50mm over higher ground.
‘Rain reported somewhere in the region every day’
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said the south‑west of England and southern Wales had seen a “very wet start to the year”.
“Rain has been reported somewhere in the region every day of the year so far,” he said, adding that a succession of Atlantic fronts in mid‑January turned an otherwise average month into one that was 50% wetter than normal.
January’s rainfall made it the 12th wettest on record for the region.
The Met Office says rainfall was a defining feature of January 2026. The UK recorded 117% of its long‑term average rainfall for January, but this figure masks striking regional differences. Some areas experienced exceptional rainfall totals, while others remained relatively dry.Why it’s been so relentlessly wet
Met Office science manager Dr Amy Doherty said the UK has been stuck under a persistent Atlantic pattern, with a strong jet stream repeatedly firing low‑pressure systems into southern Britain.
“With little opportunity for drier conditions in between, the ground has become saturated,” she said. “Even moderate rainfall has had a greater impact.”
The jet stream — which normally sits further north at this time of year — has shifted south, funnelling storm systems into Wales while trapping colder air to the north. The result is a “battleground” pattern of repeated rain bands, occasional hill snow, and very few dry spells.
More rain on the way
Forecasters say the unsettled theme will continue into the weekend and next week.
- Thursday–Friday: Heavy, persistent rain pushing north, with a risk of surface water flooding.
- Saturday: Frequent showers, especially across South Wales, with brief brighter spells in the west.
- Sunday: Slightly drier for some, but yet another band of rain arriving from the south and west.
- Next week: Low pressure remains in charge, with further spells of rain and only a hint of colder air later in the week.
Met Office operational meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight.”
Warnings in place
Yellow warnings cover parts of Wales, southwest and southeast England and the West Midlands, with the Met Office warning of flooding of a few homes and businesses, difficult driving conditions, longer journey times and possible power interruptions.
A brief break? Not yet
While computer models show a small chance of a colder, drier northerly flow developing late next week, the Met Office says this is an “outlier”. Most forecasts keep Wales in the same pattern: unsettled, cloudy, and repeatedly wet.
For now, the message is simple: keep the waterproofs handy — the rain isn’t going anywhere.
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Scotty