It’s been an exceptionally wet start to 2026!

Three named storms in January brought double the normal monthly rainfall to many places and resulted in Cornwall’s wettest January since 1836!

According to the Met Office, external 230mm has fallen at Mountbatten in Plymouth – more than double the monthly average of 110mm. 

About 202mm has fallen at Exeter Airport, where January rainfall is normally 85mm. 

Bodmin in Cornwall has so far received 290mm of rainfall this year – nearly double the January average of 155mm, the weather office said.

Whilst there has been flooding and associated damage, reservoirs across the southwest have benefitted.

Water levels at Devon and Cornwall’s three strategic reservoirs, Roadford, Wimbleball and Colliford reservoirs were at 84%, 74.3% and 65.4% respectively since the start of the year. However, the relentless January rainfall has topped them up.  South West Water said as of Thursday that they have respectively reached 94.9%, 94% and 78% capacity with total water levels across its network hit 91.4% full.

So perhaps every rain cloud has a silver lining?