Research and analysis

North West water situation: November 2024 summary

Updated 13 December 2024

Applies to England

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

1. Rainfall

Rainfall for north-west England for November was classed as below normal with 68% of the long term average (LTA). The Cumbria and Lancashire (CLA) area observed 64% of the LTA also classed as below normal. The Greater Manchester Merseyside and Cheshire (GMC) area observed more rainfall with 90% of the LTA classed as normal.

During November rainfall for north-west England was classed between below normal and normal. The highest rainfall (in terms of the LTA) was recorded in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 105% of the LTA classed as normal. The lowest rainfall was recorded in the Esk (Dumfries) hydrological area with 53% of the LTA classed as below normal. For the remaining hydrological areas 4 were classed as normal and 4 as below normal with all hydrological areas observing below normal rainfall located within CLA.

Cumulative rainfall over the past 3 months was classed between exceptionally high and notably low. The 3 month cumulative rainfall has a similar pattern to the rainfall seen in November with the highest being recorded in the Cheshire rivers group with 157% of the LTA classed as exceptionally high. The lowest was recorded in the Esk (Derwent) with 65% of the LTA classed as notably low.

The 6 month cumulative rainfall totals show rainfall classed between above normal and normal. Matching November and the 3 month cumulative total the heaviest rainfall was recorded in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 126% of the LTA classed as above normal. The lowest was recorded in the Ribble hydrological area with 89% of the LTA classed as normal.

The cumulative rainfall totals for the last 12 months were classed between exceptionally high and notably high with the heaviest rainfall recorded in the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area with 144% of the LTA and the lowest in the Mersey and Irwell hydrological area with 124% of the LTA. It has been the wettest 12 month period ending in November since 1871 for:

• Esk (Cumbria) with 2,312mm, breaking the previous record of 2,281mm in 2020
• Kent with 2,333mm, breaking the previous record of 2,241mm in 1928

2. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Despite the lower than average November rainfall across north-west England, heavy rainfall toward the end of the month resulted in SMD levels between 0mm and 1mm. SMD levels decreased across all areas that were not already fully saturated and were all lower than expected for the time of year.

3. River flows

Please note that monthly mean flows recorded for the River Bollin at Bollington Mill gauging station have not been included in this report due to data quality concerns.

Monthly mean river flows for north-west England were classed between notably high and exceptionally low. Of the 16 sites in the CLA area:

• 4 were classed as normal
• 8 were classed as below normal
• 2 were classed as notably low
• 2 were classed as exceptionally low

The lowest monthly mean flow for north-west England was recorded in the River Ellen at Bullgill with 38% of the LTA flow for November classed as exceptionally low.

Out of the 9 sites in the GMC area one was classed as notably high, one as above normal, one as below normal and the rest as normal. The highest mean flow for north-west England was recorded in the River Weaver at Ashbrook with 199% of the LTA classed as notably high.

4. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels for north-west England for the end of November were classed between exceptionally high and normal. Two sites changed classification with Bruntwood Hall increasing from above normal to notably high and Furness Abbey decreasing from exceptionally high to notably high. All other sites remained at the same classification as follows:

• Brown Bank Lay By as notably high
• Great Musgrave as normal
• Lea Lane as normal
• Primrose Hill as normal
• Priors Heyes as exceptionally high
• Skirwith as notably high
• Richmond Park as exceptionally high
• Victoria Road as normal

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 November was at 76% after decreasing during the month then recovering to the same storage as at the end of October. This is lower than the average of 82% at this time of year and lower than this time last year when the total reservoir storage was 85%.

At the end of November, reservoir storage (in terms of percentage) was highest at Crummock Water which was 100% full and lowest at Haweswater which was 61% full. The combined storage at Haweswater and Thirlmere was 64% which is lower than the average of 79% at this time of year and lower than last year when it was 83%.

Reservoirs kept low for maintenance work include:

• Audenshaw No.1
• Torside
• Anglezarke
• High Bullough

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.

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