January 2026 was a cool and wet month, with most stations recording monthly rainfall totals above their 1991-2020 Long-Term Average (LTA).

Ireland's rainfall was 123% of the 1991-2020 LTA (164mm) and ranked 18th wettest nationally and the wettest since 2018, according to the latest Met Éireann Climate Statement published today (Wednesday, February 4).

Co. Dublin observed its second wettest January on record with both Phoenix Park (225% of its LTA) and Dublin Airport (223% of its LTA) having their second wettest January behind January 1948.

Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford was the wettest synoptic station in January with 232.7 mm (230% of its LTA), its wettest January since 1996.

The national mean air temperature of 5.31°C made January 2026 the 59th coldest in 127 years and the coldest January since 2021.

January 2026 began cold and mostly dry with spells of crisp winter sunshine and widespread frost at night.

High pressure to the west steered a cold Arctic airmass over Ireland in a northerly airflow.

This brought occasional wintry showers, particularly across northern and north western areas where some snowfall accumulated at times.

High pressure pulled away to the north at the end of the first week allowing Atlantic low pressure to dominate for the rest of the month.

The second week saw frequent bands of rain and showers moving in from the west while it became somewhat milder.

Storm

During the second half of January, a strong southerly displaced North Atlantic jet stream directed a succession of low pressure systems toward the country from the south west.

At the same time, a cold blocking high pressure over northern and eastern Europe caused these systems to slow or stall to the south west of Ireland and meander northwards.

This pattern resulted in repeated frontal rainbands moving up from the south, giving prolonged spells of heavy rain, concentrated over the south and east of the country.

The cumulative effect of the prolonged wet spell for the south and east caused significant flooding in places.

A notable event during this period was Storm Chandra, named by the UK Met Office, which rapidly deepened to the south of Ireland on January 26.

As it tracked north late on January 26 into January 27, it brought strong winds and widespread heavy rainfall.

The month finished with further bands of rain or showers, mainly affecting the south and east.