Yorkshire water situation: December 2024 summary
Updated 14 January 2025
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-situation-local-area-reports/yorkshire-water-situation-december-2024-summary
1. December 2024 summary
This month, the rainfall in Yorkshire was above average overall but concentrated into 2 wet periods. The soils were mostly wet to begin with and were fully saturated by the month’s end. Daily mean river flows were mostly normal apart from a high flow period associated with Storm Darragh from days 5 to 9. Groundwater levels rose in all aquifers and reservoir stocks also increased, remaining just above the long term average (LTA).
2. Rainfall
The total rainfall in December was above normal in most catchments but within the normal range in the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Esk according to the MET Office Had-UK Grid data set. The monthly rainfall totals ranged from 119% of the LTA in the Nidd to 146% in the Don and Ouse catchments.
Monthly rainfall recorded at our key indicator sites ranged from 56mm at Romanby in the Swale catchment to 291.6mm at Snaizeholme Tow Hill in the Ure catchment.
Most of the month’s rain was concentrated around two events: the first being between day 4 and day 7, around the time of Storm Darragh, and the second being the heavy rain on day 31. The second week and days 22 to 30 featured settled conditions.
Rainfall in the west of Yorkshire was heaviest on day 31, comprising a significant storm event in the upper Aire, upper Calder and Colne catchments. Daily totals reached 62% of the December LTA rainfall at Skipton Snaygill in the upper Aire and over 80% at Marsden Butterley Reservoir in the Colne tributary of the Calder catchment.
In the Esk, Rye, Derwent and Hull catchments however, Storm Darragh was more significant. On day 7, 41% and 36% of the month’s rain fell at 2 of our rain gauges.
3. Soil moisture deficit
Soils were wet in most areas for the whole of December and by month’s end all were completely saturated across Yorkshire. The lower Ouse and Humber regions saw the biggest change, with soil moisture classified as normal for the first week only and showing a reduction in soil moisture deficit of around 30mm to 40mm by the end of December.
4. River flows
Monthly mean flows in the western Pennine catchments were a little below the LTA, between 78% and 97% and classified as normal for December. Further east, catchments most affected by Storm Darragh recorded above normal monthly mean flows, ranging from 124% of the LTA in the Don to 147% of the LTA in the Rye. In the upper Hull catchment, monthly mean flow in the West Beck at Wansford Snakeholm Lock was notably high.
In response to the rainfall pattern, the main period of notably and exceptionally high daily mean flows occurred between days 5 and 9 in the Pennine catchments, Esk, Rye and Derwent. Although gradually receding, flows in the Rye and Derwent remained above normal until mid-month. The Swale, Ure and Don responded moderately to rainfall in the third week with only minor fluctuations elsewhere. During settled weather flows continued to recede in most catchments. Daily mean flows reached below normal for late December by day 28, although still within the rivers’ medium flow regime in an annual context. River flows rose sharply with rainfall during day 31, into the normal range or higher, but did not peak until the New Year.
The groundwater-fed West Beck in the Hull catchment at Wansford Snakeholm Lock responded strongly to the winter rise in Chalk groundwater levels. Daily mean flows started the month in the normal range, increased to above normal on day 7 and rose steeply to notably high on day 12. They remained notably high, declining slightly from day 19 and returned to above normal from day 29.
5. Groundwater levels
5.1 Magnesian Limestone
The groundwater level within the Magnesian Limestone at Brick House Farm increased and was notably high for the time of year.
5.2 Millstone Grit
The groundwater level increased within the Millstone Grit at Hill Top Farm and reached normal for the time year. It should be noted that this observation borehole is used for water abstraction by means of a pump. Therefore, the groundwater level recorded here may be subject to the effects of this.
5.3 Sherwood Sandstone
The groundwater level in the Sherwood Sandstone increased at Great Ouseburn, remaining exceptionally high for the time of year while groundwater levels increased at Riccall Approach Farm, remaining normal for the time of year.
5.4 Corallian Limestone
The groundwater level increased within the Corallian Limestone at Sproxton, into the lower part of the normal range for the time of year.
5.5 Chalk
The groundwater level increased at Wetwang and reached above normal for the time of year (northern Yorkshire Wolds chalk), while Dalton Estate (central Yorkshire Wolds chalk) increased but remained normal for the time of year.
6. Reservoir stocks
The reservoir stocks gradually increased over the course of this month and remained a little higher than the LTA throughout. Overall, they increased by 6.6% of the total capacity.
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.
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