1. Rainfall

Rainfall for north-west England was classed as normal with 85% of the long term average (LTA). The Cumbria and Lancashire (CLA) area observed 78% of the LTA also classed as normal. The Greater Manchester Merseyside and Cheshire (GMC) area observed more rainfall with 129% of the LTA, which was classed as above normal. The heaviest rainfall was observed in the second half of the month directly before and after storm Éowyn (24 to 25 January).

During January rainfall for hydrological areas within north-west England was classed between below normal and notably high. The highest rainfall (in terms of LTA) was recorded in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 149% of the LTA classed as notably high. The lowest rainfall was recorded in the Eden and Esk (Dumfries) hydrological areas both with 58% of the LTA classed as below normal. The rainfall in all other hydrological areas was classed as normal.

Cumulative rainfall over the past 3 months was classed between below normal and notably high. The 3 month rainfall distribution shows a similar pattern to January with the highest being recorded in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 139% of the LTA classed as notably high. The lowest was in the Esk (Dumfries) with 76% of the LTA classed as below normal.

The 6 month cumulative rainfall totals show rainfall classed between normal and exceptionally high. The highest rainfall was again seen in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 141% of the LTA classed as exceptionally high. This is the fifth highest rainfall recorded in Cheshire rivers group for a 6 month period ending in January since 1871. The lowest rainfall was recorded in the Eden with 94% of the LTA classed as normal.

Cumulative rainfall totals for the last 12 months were classed between above normal and exceptionally high with the highest rainfall being observed in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 146% of the LTA. This is the second highest rainfall recorded in Cheshire rivers group for a 12 month period ending in January since 1871. The lowest cumulative rainfall totals recorded for the last 12 months was for the Ribble hydrological area with 114% of the LTA.

2. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Soil moisture deficit (SMD) levels for January were recorded as being between 0mm and 1mm. By the start of January all areas across north-west England were fully saturated. While the SMD in some areas rose very slightly over January, by the start of February all but 2 of them were still below the LTA with more than half of the areas remaining fully saturated.

3. River flows

Monthly mean river flows for north-west England were classed between normal and exceptionally high. Of the 16 sites in the CLA area 3 were classed as below normal, 3 were classed as notably high and the remainder were classed as normal. The lowest monthly mean flow (in terms of the LTA) for north-west England during January was in the river Eden at Kirkby Stephen with 63% of the LTA classed as below normal.

Out of the 9 sites in the GMC area 1 was classed as normal, 1 was classed as above normal, 4 were classed as notably high and 3 were classed as exceptionally high. The highest monthly mean flow for north-west England during January was recorded for the river Weaver at Ashbrook with 189% of the LTA classed as exceptionally high and the highest monthly flow for January since records began in 1977 for this station.

4. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels for north-west England for the end of January were classed between normal and exceptionally high. Three sites changed classification with Brown Bank Lay-By increasing from above normal to notably high, Bruntwood Hall increasing from normal to exceptionally high and Victoria Road decreased from above normal to normal. All other sites remained the same classification as follows:

• Furness Abbey at notably high
• Great Musgrave at normal
• Lea Lane at normal
• Primrose Hill at normal
• Priors Heyes at exceptionally high
• Skirwith at normal
• Richmond Park at exceptionally high

Levels at Priors Heyes remain high compared to historic levels because the aquifer is recovering from the effects of historically high abstractions.

5. Reservoir stocks

Total reservoir storage for north-west England at the end of January was at 85.1% after increasing from 82.4% at the end of December this is lower than the average of 90.9% at this time of year and also lower than last year when storage was 91.2%.

At the end of January, reservoir storage (in terms of percentage) was highest at Crummock Water which was 100% full and lowest at Longdendale which was 74.3% full. The combined storage at Haweswater and Thirlmere was 77.7% which is lower than the average of 90.3% seen at this time of year and also lower than last year when storage was 97.7%.

Author: Greater Manchester Merseyside and Cheshire Hydrology Team, hydrology.gmmych@environment-agency.gov.uk

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 herein.