North East water situation: March 2025 summary
Updated 14 April 2025
Applies to England
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1. Summary
Overall, March was a dry month with rainfall totals classed as below average and very little rainfall recorded across the area. Monthly mean river flows decreased at all indicator sites and fell within the notably low or exceptionally low ranges. Groundwater levels decreased across the area with the exception of West Hall Farm borehole. All reservoir stocks in the area have decreased this month and are just below average for the time of year.
2. Rainfall
Monthly rainfall totals were below the long term average (LTA) for all catchments, with totals falling within normal, notably low or exceptionally low ranges. Overall, 7 of the last 10 months have been below the LTA. Monthly totals ranged from 33% of the LTA in the Tweed catchment to 53% of the LTA in the Seaham catchment.
Analysis of the daily rainfall shows very little rainfall was recorded in the first 3 weeks of March. The area recorded small rainfall totals on 22 March. The last week of March was also dry with very little rainfall recorded across the area.
The 3-month rainfall totals are in the exceptionally low range for the Tyne catchment and in the notably low range for the rest of the area, with the exception of the Seaham catchment. The Tyne catchment has recorded the fifth driest start to the year since records began in 1871 and the driest since 1973. Only the longer duration totals (11 months and above) are in the normal range for all catchments.
3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge
Soil moisture deficits are less than 10mm in the Tyne catchment and between 11mm and 40mm across the rest of the area. SMD increased from 1mm at the end of February to 15mm to 25mm by the end of March and soils in many areas are drier than average for the time of year, especially along the coast.
4. River flows
Monthly mean river flows have seen a large decrease this month at all indicator sites and fall within the notably low or exceptionally low ranges. Monthly mean flows ranged from 18% of the LTA at Hartford Bridge on the River Blyth to 36% of the LTA at Rothbury on the River Coquet. Middleton in Teesdale on the River Tees and Haydon Bridge on the River South Tyne both recorded their lowest monthly mean flows for March since records began in 1972 and 1974.
Analysis of the daily mean flows shows that flows were in the normal, below normal or notably low ranges at the start of the month. Daily mean flows decreased at all indicator sites following a very dry first 3 weeks of the month and increased slightly following a period of rainfall on 22 March. Mean daily flows decreased towards the end of the month with indicator sites falling within the below normal or notably low ranges by the end of the month.
5. Groundwater levels
Groundwater levels vary across the area. Levels in West Hall Farm borehole in the Wear Magnesian Limestone have recorded a small increase this month and fall within the exceptionally high range. The level in Aycliffe NRA2 in the Skerne Magnesian Limestone decreased slightly and falls within the above normal range. Royalty Observation is classed as normal in the Fell Sandstone. Red Lion in the Skerne Magnesian Limestone and Town Law in the Fell Sandstone fall within the normal ranges for March.
6. Reservoir stocks
All reservoirs stocks decreased across the area this month. The largest decreases were within the Durham Group, Lune and Balder group and at Cow Green reservoir, which all recorded a 10 percent decrease in stock. Reservoir stocks are just below average for the time of year.
| Reservoir or reservoir group | Percentage of current stocks | Percentage of previous month stocks |
|---|---|---|
| Kielder | 87.1 | 87.8 |
| North Tynedale group | 73.4 | 77.8 |
| Derwent | 90.3 | 96.2 |
| Durham group | 89.4 | 100 |
| Lune and Balder group | 87 | 98.1 |
| Cow Green | 85 | 95.9 |
Author: Environment Agency, hydrology.northeast@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 in this report.