1. Summary

Please see Section 7.3 of the main report for a map detailing the Midlands regional coverage of this report.

Rainfall - Rainfall monthly totals for January were normal or above normal across the Midlands.

Soil moisture deficit (SMD) - By the end of January, all hydrological catchments in the Midlands recorded a SMD of less than or equal to 10mm. Soils do not have a moisture deficit so are wetter when compared to long term average (LTA) for the time of year. 

River flows - January monthly mean river flows were normal or higher than normal across the Midlands

Groundwater levels - At the end of January all groundwater reported levels were above normal or higher. 

Reservoir stocks - All reported reservoirs had a storage above 90% at the end of January. The reservoirs were also all above their long term average (LTA) for the time of year.

2. Rainfall

Monthly rainfall totals for January were normal or above normal across all the Midlands hydrological catchments. The above normal rainfall totals occurred in east Midlands and in some southern parts of the region (Avon to Evesham, Lower Severn Estuary).

The previous 3 month cumulative rainfall totals were normal or above normal across the Midlands. The previous 12 months (February 2024 to January 2025) cumulative rainfall totals recorded that most of the Midlands had exceptionally high or notably high rainfall. These totals were between 120% and 150% of the LTA. This wet pattern occurred through much of the previous year, with most of Midlands rainfall totals showing only 2 or 3 months where rainfall was less than 100% of the LTA.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

By the end of January, all hydrological catchments in the Midlands recorded a soil moisture deficit (SMD) of less than or equal to 10mm. This is similar to December, which also reported no significant SMD. Soils are slightly wetter than LTA however, this is considered typical for the time of year.

4. River flows

January monthly mean river flows were normal or higher than normal across the Midlands hydrological catchments. Within the Midlands, normal monthly mean flows were recorded at 5 flow monitoring sites ranging between 98% and 129% of the LTA. These occurred mainly in the west of the Midlands including the Upper Severn, Teme and Wye but also in Derwent. Eleven sites recorded above normal monthly mean flows ranging from 123% to 155% of the LTA. These occurred through much of the middle and lower Severn, Avon, Frome (Glos.), Tame, Dove, Soar and middle and lower Trent. Notably high monthly mean flows were recorded at 3 sites including Walcot (River Tern), Great Bridgeford (River Sow) and Auckley (River Torne). These notably high sites ranged from 143% to 187% of the LTA. Two sites had exceptional high flow levels; these were Wedderburn Bridge (River Leadon) and Worksop (River Ryton) with 219% and 245% of LTA respectively.

Daily river flow charts in the main report show individual storm events as abrupt rises in level followed by a recession. In the majority of sites January’s storm events are particularly shown at the start (first 10 days) and end of the month.

5. Groundwater levels   

At the end of January all groundwater reported levels were above normal or higher relative to their LTA.

Sandstone aquifers recorded 1 site (Crossley Hill) at above normal, 2 sites (St Mary’s Church and Four Crosses) at notably high and 3 at exceptional high (Weir Farm, Anthonys cross and Coxmoor). Magnesian limestone (Southards Lane) recorded above normal as did the Permo Carboniferous (Ram Hall). The Carboniferous Limestone (Rider Point) was notably high.

6. Reservoir stocks

All reported reservoirs had a storage above 90% at the end of January. The reservoirs were also all above their LTA for the time of year. In most cases, reservoir storage either increased slightly or remained relatively similar at the end of the month to the start. In several cases, the reservoirs would have spilled as storage reached 100%.

7. River Severn operations

The River Severn is regulated to maintain a minimum flow at Bewdley gauging station. This ensures sufficient water flows along the river to support environmental and water supply requirements. Regulation is instigated when flows drop below a threshold. The 2025 regulation season has not yet started.

8. River Wye operations

For all of January, storage in the Elan Valley reservoirs was above the release control line and the flows at Redbrook gauging station were above the regulation threshold. Therefore, regulation releases were not in operation. As of 7 February 2025, this was still the case. Environmental releases started to be made from 13 January up until the storm event when Caban Coch reservoir became full and started spilling on 27 January. As of 6 February 2025, environmental releases recommenced once Caban Coch had stopped spilling.

9. Water abstraction restrictions

As of 4 February 2025 there are 5 water abstraction licence restrictions in place across the Midlands affecting 6 licences in total.

Author: Midlands Hydrology, midlandshydrology@environment-agency.gov.uk

Contact Details: 03708 506 506

Disclaimer: All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.