Yorkshire water situation: February 2025 summary
Updated 12 March 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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1. Summary
Rainfall was below normal in most catchments this month. River flows reflected this, fluctuating between normal and below normal but mostly decreasing overall. Soils were wet throughout the month and close to being fully saturated. Groundwater levels declined but in most aquifers were normal for February or higher. Reservoir stocks decreased slightly overall but remained close to capacity and above the long term average.
2. Rainfall
Overall, the amount of rainfall that Yorkshire experienced in February was less than expected for the time of year. Rainfall was below normal in all catchments except the Swale, Don and Rother catchments where rainfall was in the normal range. Monthly totals ranged between 54% of the long term average (LTA) in the Aire and 71% of the LTA in the Swale. Much of the month’s rain fell between day 19 and day 26, with day 23 having the highest rainfall in most catchments.
Monthly rainfall recorded at our key indicator sites ranged from 15.8mm at South Elmsall in the Don catchment to 98.2mm at Tow Hill in the Ure catchment.
The highest daily total of the month was on day 23 in the Ure catchment when 31.4mm fell at Tow Hill, this made up 25% of the LTA at this site.
In the Pennine catchments the wettest spells were days 4, 8 to 12 and 19 to 26. In the Don catchment rainfall was very low and sporadic during the month. In the Ouse, Rye, Hull and Derwent catchments, the month began dry before there was a small amount of rain around day 10. It was then largely dry again before some rain on days 20, 23 and 26.
For most of Yorkshire, this month is the first since before Storm Babet in October 2023 in which the 12 month cumulative rainfall has returned to normal from wetter conditions.
3. Soil moisture deficit
Soils were classified as wet and effectively saturated across Yorkshire for the whole of February. Despite below average rainfall, evaporation was also low thus maintaining wet soil conditions.
4. River flows
Over the course of the month, flows declined in all catchments. Monthly mean flows were generally below average and classified as below normal or normal. They ranged from 43% of the LTA in the Calder to 72% in the Derwent. The exception was the West Beck in the Hull catchment where the monthly mean was 127% of the LTA, supported by spring flows from the Chalk. This was in the normal range for February.
Within the Pennine catchments, flows steady declined from the start of the month with most becoming below normal by the end of the first week. There was a slight response to the rainfall after day 9 and then the gradual decline continued from day 13. In the Aire, Calder and upper Wharfe daily mean flows were notably low by the middle of the third week. Indeed, the gauging station at Elland in the Calder recorded exceptionally low flows temporarily on day 18. Following rainfall, moderate increases in flow occurred, peaking on day 20 to 21 and day 24 to 25. This returned flows to the normal range. The Ouse seemed to follow a similar pattern.
The Rother, Don, Esk, Rye and Derwent showed more subtle fluctuations but also had a reduction in flow overall.
After peaking at the end of January, flows in the chalk-fed West Beck were above normal until day 11 when they returned to the normal range.
5. Groundwater levels
5.1 Magnesian Limestone
The groundwater level within the Magnesian Limestone at Brick House Farm decreased this month but remained notably high for the time of year.
5.2 Millstone Grit
The groundwater level decreased within the Millstone Grit at Hill Top Farm and fell below 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 at Great Ouseburn decreased to above normal for the time of year. Groundwater levels also decreased at Riccall Approach Farm, remaining normal for the time of year.
5.4 Corallian Limestone
The groundwater level decreased within the Corallian Limestone at Sproxton and remained normal for the time of year.
5.5 Chalk
The groundwater level decreased at Wetwang and remained normal for the time of year (northern Yorkshire Wolds chalk). At Dalton Estate (central Yorkshire Wolds chalk) the level decreased into normal for the time of year.
6. Reservoir stocks
The reservoir stocks remained higher than the LTA throughout this month. Overall, they decreased by 1.3% 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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