January 2026 brought notably colder and wetter conditions to Friesland compared to historical averages. The month was characterized by significant temperature fluctuations and above-normal precipitation, creating a challenging winter period for the northern Dutch province.
Temperature Overview
The average temperature for January in Friesland reached 1.0 degrees Celsius, falling 2.7 degrees below the normal value of 3.7 degrees. This represents a considerable cold anomaly for the month. The temperature range was substantial, with the coldest reading of -10.8 degrees Celsius recorded in Ooststellingwerf on January 11th. In contrast, the warmest day occurred on January 17th, also in Ooststellingwerf, when temperatures climbed to 10.2 degrees Celsius, demonstrating the volatile nature of the month's weather patterns.
Precipitation Patterns
Friesland experienced above-average rainfall throughout January, with a total of 94.5 millimeters compared to the normal 80.7 millimeters, representing a 17 percent increase. The wettest single day occurred on January 4th in Leeuwarden, where 15.7 millimeters of precipitation fell. Leeuwarden emerged as the wettest location overall, accumulating 108.8 millimeters during the month, indicating that northwestern areas received particularly heavy rainfall.
Sunshine and Notable Conditions
Sunshine hours totaled 101.4 hours, which was 12 percent below the normal value of 115.7 hours. This deficit reflects the cloudy conditions that frequently accompanied the wet weather systems moving through the province. The combination of below-normal temperatures, excess precipitation, and reduced sunshine created typical winter conditions, though the cold anomaly and wet pattern were more pronounced than usual for this period.