The Met Office describes 'meteorological winter' as spanning December to February, and this year's rainfall has topped the 30-year average in many areas. In eastern Scotland, rainfall has reached 114 per cent of the seasonal norm, while northern and north-western Scotland have experienced only 60 per cent. Met Office meteorologist and presenter Alex Deakin explained the uneven distribution. "Combined with a blocking pattern that caused these systems to stall, this set up a semi-permanent south-easterly flow into the UK. Sharing: "A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, approximately 7% more for every degree Celsius of warming.

Source: The Herald February 21, 2026 10:19 UTC