January 2026 Weather Summary for East Flanders, Belgium
January 2026 brought relatively mild conditions to East Flanders, with temperatures running slightly above normal throughout the month. The average temperature reached 3.9 degrees Celsius, exceeding the seasonal normal of 3.4 degrees by 0.5 degrees. This modest warming trend was interrupted by a cold spell around mid-month, when Assenede recorded the month's lowest temperature of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius on January 11th. In contrast, warmer air masses pushed through on January 17th, allowing Buggenhout to reach the month's maximum of 11.7 degrees Celsius, demonstrating the typical variability of winter weather in the region.
Precipitation and Moisture
Rainfall during January proved notably drier than average, with the province receiving 81.3 millimeters compared to the normal 97.7 millimeters, representing a 17 percent deficit. The wettest day occurred on January 9th in Ronse, which recorded 23.9 millimeters of precipitation. Sint-Laureins emerged as the wettest location for the entire month, accumulating 96.5 millimeters of rain. This below-average precipitation pattern suggests that January 2026 was characterized by fewer rainy systems moving through the region than typically expected for this winter month.
Sunshine and Notable Observations
Sunshine hours exceeded expectations, with 113.6 hours recorded across East Flanders compared to the normal 107.3 hours, representing a 6 percent surplus. This above-average sunshine, combined with the drier conditions, created a relatively pleasant winter month despite the cold temperatures. The combination of milder-than-normal average temperatures, significantly reduced precipitation, and increased sunshine hours painted a picture of a winter month that deviated from typical January patterns in East Flanders, offering residents more daylight and fewer wet days than the seasonal average.