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High cumulative precipitation heights in the Mediterranean and Portugal in early 2026
Based on NASA's GPM IMERG-Early satellite rainfall data, as analyzed by the climatebook scientific team, the spatial distribution of cumulative precipitation in the wider Mediterranean region is presented on the map below, for the period from the beginning of 2026 (01/01/2026) to mid-February (12/02/2026).
The map shows the highest cumulative precipitation heights on the west coasts of Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and Portugal (orange and yellow shades). These areas have received repeated crossings of barometric lows since the beginning of 2026, with cumulative rainfall reaching or even exceeding 800 mm in some places. Particular mention is made of the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, mainly in Portugal, which in early February was successively affected by storms Kristin, Leonardo and then Marta, which caused, in addition to high precipitation heights, extensive floods and material destruction.
Meteorologically, January and February in the Mediterranean are characterized by frequent bad weather. Many barometric lows move along the jet stream, from the west to the region, strengthening during their passage over warm seas, thus carrying large amounts of moisture. Usually this moisture comes from the Atlantic to the Iberian Peninsula, while other times south-southwest winds carry the liquid air masses towards the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian and the Aegean Sea, causing episodes of heavy rainfall.
It is worth noting that the data used for the above analysis is a NASA satellite estimate that offers a timely, near-real-time picture of the rain, but may contain errors.
Based on NASA's GPM IMERG-Early satellite rainfall data, as analyzed by the climatebook scientific team, the spatial distribution of cumulative precipitation in the wider Mediterranean region is presented on the map below, for the period from the beginning of 2026 (01/01/2026) to mid-February (12/02/2026).
The map shows the highest cumulative precipitation heights on the west coasts of Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and Portugal (orange and yellow shades). These areas have received repeated crossings of barometric lows since the beginning of 2026, with cumulative rainfall reaching or even exceeding 800 mm in some places. Particular mention is made of the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, mainly in Portugal, which in early February was successively affected by storms Kristin, Leonardo and then Marta, which caused, in addition to high precipitation heights, extensive floods and material destruction.
Meteorologically, January and February in the Mediterranean are characterized by frequent bad weather. Many barometric lows move along the jet stream, from the west to the region, strengthening during their passage over warm seas, thus carrying large amounts of moisture. Usually this moisture comes from the Atlantic to the Iberian Peninsula, while other times south-southwest winds carry the liquid air masses towards the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian and the Aegean Sea, causing episodes of heavy rainfall.
It is worth noting that the data used for the above analysis is a NASA satellite estimate that offers a timely, near-real-time picture of the rain, but may contain errors.
