Research and analysis

North West water situation: December 2024 summary

Updated 14 January 2025

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

1. Rainfall

December saw changeable weather, with days of heavier rainfall interspersed with periods of calmer weather dominated by high-pressure systems. The heaviest rain was observed on the last day of December, with an average of 82mm of rainfall recorded across all 9 indicator sites on 31 December.

December’s rainfall for north-west England as a whole was classed as above normal, at 139% of the long term average (LTA). Rainfall across Cumbria and Lancashire was classed as above normal, at 133% of the LTA. Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire (GMC) observed 163% of the LTA, classed as notably high.

Rainfall totals were generally higher towards the south of north-west England, and towards the coast, particularly across GMC and Lancashire. The highest rainfall (in terms of the LTA) was observed in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area (164% of the LTA), classed as notably high. The lowest rainfall (in terms of the LTA) was observed in the Esk (Dumfries) hydrological area (117% of the LTA), classed as normal.

Similarly, for the 3-month cumulative rainfall period ending in December, the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area in particularly is wetter than hydrological areas further north, classed as notably high. This is followed by the Douglas hydrological area which was classed as above normal. The remaining hydrological areas were all classed as normal.

The 6-month cumulative rainfall period, sees a similar trend. With the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area being significantly wetter than elsewhere and classed as exceptionally high. This is followed by the Douglas, the Kent, and the Esk (Cumbria) hydrological area which were classed as above normal. The remaining hydrological areas were all classed as normal.

The 12-month cumulative rainfall totals, which provide an illustration of rainfall observed during 2024, illustrates how wet the first half of 2024 was, with all hydrological areas being classed as notably high or exceptionally high, despite lower rainfall totals in recent months. In particular, the Cheshire Rivers Group, the Douglas, the Kent, and the Esk (Cumbria) hydrological areas were all classed as exceptionally high.

Overall, 2024 was the ninth wettest year on record since 1871 (153 years) for north-west England as a whole. Notably for the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area, this was the 2nd wettest year on record, at 1107mm, behind the 1872 record of 1187mm. 

2. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Please be aware we have now changed to reporting soil moisture deficits (SMD) on a hydrological area basis in line with our rainfall reporting. As such, we have also updated the map display in Figure 3.1 of the main report accordingly.

Due to heavy rainfall recorded on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Soils across north-west England have remained saturated at the beginning of January. SMD levels were lower than, or expected for the LTA for this time of year, particularly across Cheshire.

3. River flows

Similar to the spatial pattern in rainfall, the highest mean river flows (in terms of percentage of the LTA) were generally found towards the south of north-west England, particularly across GMC. River flows were highest (in terms of percentage of the LTA) in the Weaver catchment at Ashbrook (184% of the LTA, classed as exceptionally high), and lowest in the Ellen catchment at Bulgill (77% of the LTA, classed as normal) due to lower than average rainfall within the Ellen catchment.

For the other 23 indicator sites reported:

• one site, Rudheath, was classed as notably high
• 6 sites were classed as above normal
• 16 sites were classed as normal

Heavy rainfall recorded across north-west England on 31 December resulted in several notable peaks in daily mean flow.

Daily mean flows above Q1 (this is where mean flow has been exceeded only 1% of the time during the lifespan of the gauging station) were recorded on 31 December at:

• Bulgill gauging station on the River Ellen
• Duddon Hall gauging station on the River Duddon
• Kirkby gauging station on the River Alt
• Sedgwick gauging station on the River Kent
• St Michaels gauging station on the River Wyre
• Ashton Weir gauging station on the River Mersey
• Causey Bridges gauging station on Sankey Brook
• Little Woolden Hall gauging station on Glaze Brook

In addition, daily mean flows above Q0.1 (where mean flow has been exceeded only 0.1% of the time) were recorded on 31 December at:

• Caton gauging station on the River Lune
• Croston gauging station on the River Yarrow
• Hodder Place gauging station on the River Hodder
• Lunes Bridge gauging station on the River Lune
• Samlesbury gauging station on the River Ribble
• Adelphi Weir gauging station on the River Irwell
• Brinksway gauging station on the River Mersey
• Portwood gauging station on the River Tame

4. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels across north-west England at the end of December were classed between normal and exceptionally high. Groundwater levels at:

• Skirwith, decreased, from notably high to above normal
• Bruntwoood Hall, increased, from notably high to exceptionally high

All other indicator sites remained at the same classification at:

• Brown Bank Lay-By, classed as notably high
• Furness Abbey, classed as notably high
• Great Musgrave, classed as normal
• Lea Lane, classed as normal
• Primrose Hill, classed as normal
• Priors Heyes, classed as exceptionally high
• Richmond Park, classed as exceptionally high
• Victoria Road, classed as normal

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

5. Reservoir storage

Total reservoir storage for north-west England increased from 78% from the end of November, to 82% at the end of December. This is lower than the average of 89% at this time of the year, and lower than this time last year when total reservoir storage was 88%.

At the end of December, reservoir storage (in terms of percentage was highest at Crummock Water, and Ennerdale Water, both remaining at 100% full. This was followed by the Dee (Celyn and Brenig) system which was 98% full. Reservoir storage remain lowest at Haweswater (in terms of percentage), which was 68% full.

The combined storage at Haweswater and Thirlmere was at 72%. This is lower than the average of 86% at this time of the year, and lower than this time last year when storage was 84%.

Reservoirs kept low for maintenance works include part of the:

• Longdendale system – Audenshaw No.1, Torside
• Rivington system – Anglezarke, and High Bullough
• Bolton supply system – Dingle
• Piethorne Valley system – Norman Hill, Kitcliffe, and Rooden
• Ogden (Barley) system – Ogden Lower, and Ogden Upper
• Barnacre Group system – Barnacre North
• Longridge system - Alston No.1, Alston No.2, and Spade Mill No.2
• Dee (Celyn and Brenig) system – Llyn Celyn
• Dubbs system – Dubbs
• Watergrove system – Watergrove

Author: Cumbria and Lancashire Hydrology Team, hydrology.CMBLNC@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.