January 2026 Storms Cause Record Low Sunlight Hours in Spain

January 2026 saw Spain endure a series of powerful storms, leading to the least number of sunlight hours in the country since 1996. According to meteorological research by Dominic Royé of the Misión Biológica de Galicia, the month registered an average sunlight deficit of 29 hours compared to normal, second only to 1996's 33-hour reduction. The Iberian Peninsula generally experiences around 185 hours of sunshine in January, but this year most regions fell short, with Galicia notably affected — cities like Santiago reported nearly a 50% drop in sunshine, alongside similar figures in Vigo and A Coruña. The primary cause of reduced sunlight was extensive cloud cover rather than rainfall itself, which sometimes did not correlate directly with diminished sunlight hours. This lack of sun can have adverse physiological and psychological effects, especially in northern Spain where residents are more vulnerable to these changes.

The sequence of "borrascas," or storms, includes the notably early occurrence of the "Marta" storm, marking a potentially shifting pattern in weather behavior. As February began, the latest storm named Nils brought additional rains and strong winds, prompting yellow and orange warnings in various coastal and inland regions, including Galicia, Murcia, and Valencia. Meteorologist Juan de Dios del Pino of Aemet highlighted that although rains and strong winds would persist for several days, milder conditions are expected with an approaching Azores High that should bring greater weather stability by the weekend. Del Pino also mentioned that the new storms were less intense than previous ones like Joseph and Kristin but cautioned that forecasts remain uncertain as rapid changes can still occur.

Overall, Spain has experienced an unusually dark and stormy start to 2026, with significant implications for weather patterns and public well-being, particularly in northern regions where sunlight deprivation is most severe.