Why is it raining so much in Spain in 2026? And will it stop?

Spain’s start to 2026 has turned into an unrelenting deluge, with a relentless “train of storms”, one after the other. The Atlantic storm systems have continually battered the Iberian Peninsula. From Ingrid to the impending Nils, these named storms have brought record rainfall, flooding, infrastructural damage and just chaos everywhere and left residents wondering when the skies will finally clear. But why now?

Juggernaut of storms: A menace with a name

This season’s barrage began with Alice in September 2025, escalating through Benjamin, Claudia, and up to Marta in early February 2026. The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), part of the Southwest European Group, names these high-impact storms alphabetically, alternating genders for clarity. Ingrid, Joseph, Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta have already struck us, with Nils next in line if conditions continue the way they are, followed by Oriana, Pedro, and Regina.

Naming isn’t just ceremonial; it raises public awareness and risk perception. Storms earn names only for severe impacts, like orange or red alerts for winds over 90 to 110 km/h or, for that matter, intense rains risking floods. In provinces like Leon and Malaga, saturated mountain soils and swollen rivers such as the Bernesga, Torío and Guadalhorce are under constant watch for increasing dangers and the need for red alerts.

Why so much rain? Atmospheric culprits exposed

The root cause? A negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phase has weakened the Azores anticyclone, normally a shield diverting storms northward. Instead, this year, it sits lower, creating a “fast track” for Atlantic storms to barrel toward Spain and Portugal. Meteorologist Isabel Moreno describes it as “Atlantic doors wide open.”

Compounding this, a river of intense humidity from an unusually warm Caribbean Sea has supercharged these systems. Oceans, absorbing over 90 per cent of heat, have made Caribbean waters 20 to 800 times more likely to be this hot due to warmer Caribbean seas. An undulating polar jet stream, influenced by stratospheric vortex polar instabilities, is also directing cold air and storms southward.

Are there more Atlantic storms than normal this year?

No. They are just coming to Spain and Portugal. Warmer oceans power more intense rainfall, and a warmer than usual Arctic could destabilise the jet stream from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe, inviting more even storms. This winter’s rains are exceptional: In the first five days of February, most of Spain saw triple the normal rainfall. Seven high-impact storms in a month have filled reservoirs by 4,500 cubic hectometres but also caused havoc, with evacuations in flooded Grazalema and Cadiz.

Impacts and outlook: When will the rain end?

Flooded streets, wind damage, and maritime tempests are what this season is all about. Yet, no immediate relief is on the horizon as forecasts show continued instability into mid-February. As Spain tries to manage with this so-called  “unprecedented” pattern, questions still remain: Will 2025-2026 break storm records? They haven’t been broken yet. For now, it’s too early to say. There was a lot more in 1936. Vigilance is key as Storm Nils approaches.