January 2026 was the gloomiest Spain has seen in 30 years
Last month was also the wettest in Spain in a quarter of a century
January always feels like it drags on forever after Christmas, but this year seemed particularly grim thanks to the relentless bad weather that battered Spain throughout the month.
The succession of storms that pounded the country last month, and which shows no sign of letting up, darkened the days across the entire country. Spain has just experienced its January with the fewest hours of sunshine since 1996 and the second darkest in the series that began in 1984.
This January was also the wettest in the last quarter of a century, with 85% more rain than the 1991-2020 average. Moreover, it was the seventh dampest January on record since 1961, and the second wettest of the 21st century, surpassed only by 2001.
The figures come from researcher Dominic Royé at the Biological Mission of Galicia, who prepared a graph based on European satellite data from Eumestat.
Royé explained that January was the month with the greatest negative anomaly in sunshine hours in the entire record, with an average of 29 fewer hours across Spain. Only 1996 was worse, with 33 fewer hours than usual.
The country normally gets around 185 hours of sunshine in January, although there are significant differences between areas. The north usually sees between 100 and 120 hours, while the south gets between 250 and 270 hours.
This year, almost the entire country fell below these averages, with the exception of Murcia, Almería and the Balearic Islands, which stayed within normal ranges. The Atlantic coast and the northwest corner saw the biggest drops.
Galician cities registered very high percentage falls. In Santiago de Compostela, sunshine hours compared to the average for this time of year were slashed by almost 50%, in Vigo by 48% and in A Coruña by 46%. Even more significant decreases occurred in Ourense (57%), Pontevedra (56%) and Lugo (55%).
These figures are much higher than those of other Spanish cities mentioned by the researcher, such as Madrid (20%), Sevilla (30%), Gijón (40%) and Burgos (40%).
Geography plays a role as well. The greatest reductions in sunshine tend to occur in mountainous areas because of the topography, and the impact on the coast is usually less because cloud cover clears more quickly.
Cloud cover is the factor that causes the reduction in sunshine hours, although Royé explains that the amount of rain doesn't necessarily mean less sun. The sky can be cloudy without rain, just as there can be heavy downpours in a short period, like summer storms, followed by clearing. The season and day length also matter, as days are shorter in January than in July.
The reduction in daylight hours has well-known effects on people's moods, pointed out Royé, who researches the relationship between health and climate.
"It has a physiological effect but also a psychological one, because it often depresses us, especially those of us who live further north," he said.
The latest storm to batter Spain was Marta, the 13th high-impact storm of the season. Aemet explained that this is the earliest year the letter M has been reached. Until now the earliest was Myriam, named on March 3, 2020.
For more weather news go to our Weather & Climate page or follow the Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates
Image: Dominic Royé
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Unit 32, Calle Jara, Camposol Commercial Centre sector B, Camposol, Mazarron, 30875, MURCIATel: 0034 614 14 47 19
Camposol Property Sales S.L is a real estate company that specialises in property sales and helping buyers to purchase their perfect home in the south of Murcia, Spain.
They have properties for sale in the areas of Camposol, Mazarrón Country Club, the town of Mazarrón and the Port of Mazarrón, as well as Condado de Alhama golf resort, Hacienda del Álamo golf resort, Fuente Álamo, Corvera, Totana, Lorca and the entire Murcia coastline from Bolnuevo to La Azohía.Whatever type of property you're looking for in the southern Murcia area, Camposol Property Sales is the place to go, offering resales, bank repossessions and new builds... your one-stop shop for buying a house or apartment in sunny Spain!
Camposol Property Sales was founded by Lee Fisher in 2017, and together with partner Sylvia van de Velde, who joined in 2023, the pair have over 25 years of experience in selling properties in the Mazarrón and southern Murcia area.
Unlike some other property agents, Lee and Sylvia go beyond conventional real estate, viewing their properties as more than just buildings but as spaces where lives unfold. With a deep commitment to their clients, they act as caretakers, ensuring former homes become the right fit for new owners.Their expertise in the local market allows them to match properties with buyers' needs and aspirations, backed by attentive listening and in-depth knowledge of the homes they represent. Passionate about their work, they take pride in delivering a personalised service, striving to be the premier choice for those seeking property in the area.
So, whether you are looking to sell your home to a prospective buyer or want to purchase a new property, contact Camposol Property Sales first to see how they can help.
You can see their website for all the properties they currently have available for sale, or you can feel free to contact Lee and Sylvia personally with your specific request and they'll be happy to help you out.
Contact details and opening times
Business address
Unit 32, Calle Jara
Camposol Commercial Centre sector B
Camposol
Mazarrón
30875
MURCIA
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 9.30am - 5pm
Saturday by appointment
Sunday closed
How to get in touch
- Website: www.camposolpropertysales.com
- Telephone: 0034 614 14 47 19
- Email: info@camposolpropertysales.com
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