February 2026 and the broader winter season have been characterised by remarkable regional contrasts across the UK.
While national statistics paint a picture of a notably warm, wet and dull season, the underlying regional data tells a far more varied story. This article focuses on those regional patterns, using UK‑wide figures for context to frame the local detail.
February overview: warm, wet and notably dull
February continued the unsettled, rain‑dominated pattern established in January, fuelled by a stronger‑than‑usual jet stream that repeatedly pushed frontal systems towards the UK. With colder Scandinavian air blocking progression to the east, rainfall became trapped over many parts of southern England, northeast Scotland and northeast England, while rain‑shadowed regions such as northwest Scotland remained unusually dry.
Nationally, February ranked as the ninth warmest on record for the UK, with England recording its fourth warmest, Wales its sixth, and Scotland and Northern Ireland also above average. Sunshine was limited almost everywhere, making this the fourth dullest UK February on record, and the dullest on record for Wales.
Rainfall across the UK was 23% above the monthly average, though the regional divergence was stark:
- England: 70% above average its February LTA
- Northern Ireland: 30% above its February LTA
- Wales: 35% above its February LTA
- Scotland: 17% below average its February LTA
These national signals provide the wider frame within which the regional February statistics must be understood.
February 2026 regional statistics
The February temperature and rainfall data reveal a persistent north–south divide.
Scotland
Temperatures across Scotland were generally cool but near seasonal norms, with mean temperatures ranging from 3.2°C in the north to 4.5°C in the west. Anomalies were small, with most regions around 0.3–0.8°C above average. Sunshine totals were modest, ranging from 37.8 hours in the west to 47.7 hours in the north, but all remained well below typical levels, with anomalies of –17% to –44%. Rainfall was mixed:
- Northern Scotland continued its notably dry trend, with 105.8mm of rainfall - 66% of its February LTA
- Western Scotland saw 132.9mm - 82% of its February LTA
- Eastern Scotland saw 114.8 mm, representing a significant 119% of normal rainfall.
READ MORE: Contextualising February’s warm spell: A notably mild end to winter
Northern England and the Midlands
Northern and eastern England saw slightly milder conditions, with mean temperatures of 5.5°C in the east and 5.6°C in the northwest, with anomalies between +1.3°C and +1.4°C. Rainfall was highly variable:
- The East and Northeast saw 87.6 mm, representing 149% of its February LTA
- The Northwest and North Wales region recorded 126.8 mm, 115% of its February LTA
Sunshine remained subdued everywhere, with anomalies from –51% to –56%.
Central and southeastern England
This region saw the mildest conditions, with mean temperatures between 6.4°C (Midlands) and 7.9°C (SE & Central South), between +2.0°C and +2.8°C above average. Rainfall varied widely:
- East Anglia recorded 72.1 mm (168% of its February LTA)
- SE & Central South England saw 114.4 mm (188% of its February LTA)
Sunshine was limited here too, with percentages as low as 49–62% of the February LTA)
Southwest England and South Wales
This region experienced some of the highest rainfall totals in February, with 173.7 mm, equating to 166% of the February LTA. Mean temperatures reached 7.4°C, with anomalies of +2.3°C, contributing to the generally mild, damp picture. Sunshine was again below average at 64%.
Winter 2025/26 regional patterns so far
While February alone was exceptional, the larger winter picture provides additional insight.
Scotland
Winter temperatures across Scotland show a substantial contrast between regions. North Scotland recorded a mean temperature of 3.14°C, and was 0.23°C above average. East Scotland followed a similar pattern, with 3.18°C and a 0.61°C anomaly. West Scotland, however, was higher with 4.30°C - 0.64°C above average. Rainfall ranged widely: the west saw 494.2 mm, while the east and north recorded around 416.6 mm and 380.7 respectively. Sunshine was below average across the nation.
Northern England and North Wales
Winter temperatures show a milder picture across these areas. England E & NE saw a mean temperature of 4.83°C, 0.91°C above average. NW England & N Wales recorded mean temperatures of 5.06°C, 0.82°C above average
Sunshine was below average, with 71% of average for England E and NE and 78% for NW England & N Wales. Rainfall was above average with 260.9 mm and 415.9 mm respectively.
Midlands and East Anglia
Both regions saw mean temperatures above 5°C, with East Anglia reaching an above average 5.96°C, while the Midlands was also above average with a mean temperature of 5.46°C. Rainfall was above average for both regions with the Midlands recording 324.3mm and East Anglia recording 200.1mm. Sunshine hours were below average for both regions with East Anglia recording 177.6 hours and the Midlands recording 147.3 hours.
Southwest England, South Wales, and Southeast
Southern regions recorded some of the mildest winter conditions. SW England & S Wales recorded an above average mean temperature of 6.33°C, while SE & Central South: 6.49°C, again above average. Rainfall totals came in above average with SW England and South Wales recording 588.7mm, 149% of its average, while Southeast England and Central South saw 369.1mm, 157% of its average. Sunshine hours came in just below average, with SW England and South Wales recording 173.4 hours and Southeast England and Central South recording 183.5 hours.
READ MORE: Why has it been so wet this winter?
National winter context
The UK experienced one of its wettest winters on record, with England’s eighth wettest and Northern Ireland’s ninth wettest. Southern England saw its fourth wettest winter, and several counties. The West Midlands, Cornwall and Leicestershire all recorded their wettest winter on record, and several other counties - including Dorset and Warwickshire, which recorded their second wettest winter - fell within their top ten wettest winters since 1836, highlighting the widespread nature of the persistent rainfall.
National rainfall was 13% above the long‑term average, but the regional spread was vast:
- England: 42% above its winter LTA
- Northern Ireland: 27% above its winter LTA
- Wales: 20% above its winter LTA
- Scotland: 14% below its winter LTA
February and winter 2025/26 have been defined by exceptional regional contrasts. While national statistics suggest a uniformly warm, wet and dull season, the regional data reveals a more intricate story: persistent rainfall in the south and east, pronounced dryness in parts of Scotland, widespread sunshine deficits and significant north–south temperature gradients. These contrasts highlight the complexity of the UK’s winter climate and underscore the importance of regional monitoring in understanding national weather narratives.
Met Office Science Manager Dr Amy Doherty said: “February’s mild and notably dull conditions have brought a winter of considerable contrasts to a close. While February itself stood out for its exceptionally low sunshine and above average temperatures, the broader winter picture shows just how varied conditions have been around the UK.
“Some southern and central areas of the UK experienced persistent rainfall, leading to saturated ground and several areas recording one of their wettest winters on record. In contrast, parts of northern and western Scotland were markedly drier, which is notable given these areas are typically among the wettest in the UK.
“This year, it was eastern Scotland that saw above average rainfall, highlighting an unusual reversal of the pattern normally expected and demonstrating the strong regional differences that can develop within a season.
“Taken together, the winter and February figures highlight the influence of a predominantly Atlantic weather pattern and the pronounced variability that can characterise the UK climate.”
What about the weather as we start meteorological spring?
The beginning of March marks a contrast in weather type from the end of winter. Tony Wisson is a deputy chief forecaster with the Met Office. He said: “This week is the start of meteorological spring, and the forecast is set to reflect the seasonal shift. Over the next few days, the conditions are likely to become noticeably more settled, offering a welcome change from recent unsettled weather. We will see a band of rain cross the country on Thursday, and spells of rain or showers may continue to come and go across Northern Ireland and western Scotland over the coming days. We’re looking at a slightly warmer week, with highs of up to 19°C on Thursday.”
How do we know when records are broken?
The answer lies in a Met Office dataset that's been quietly mapping our weather history for around the last two centuries.
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