Yorkshire water situation: June 2024 summary
Updated 12 July 2024
Applies to England
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1. Summary
After a wet winter and spring, June produced more typical rainfall and river flow conditions. Rainfall was slightly below average, especially in East and South Yorkshire. River flows declined overall. Soils became drier in the second half of the month. Groundwater levels declined in all aquifers and remained above average apart from the Millstone Grit. Reservoir stocks showed a small decrease but remained above normal for the time of year.
2. Rainfall
The rain that fell in June was in the normal range for all catchments, between 65% and 90% of the long term average (LTA).
In the first week rainfall was minimal and was a combination of both dry days and low rainfall totals across all catchments. The wettest days across Yorkshire were 9 and 15 July, with a further event in the western Pennines on 27 July. An isolated rain event occurred on day 9 and most catchments recorded daily totals of around 10mm. Between day 13 to 17 rain gauges across Yorkshire recorded rainfall totals of around 25mm, with the exception of the Upper Aire gauge at Gorpley recording 43.2mm. The highest daily total recorded in the month was in South Yorkshire, where the gauge at Cannon Hall recorded 30.2mm on day 18, equivalent to 51% of the LTA for June.
Day 18 to day 26 was a settled period across Yorkshire. In fact from day 18 to 27 there was no rain recorded in the Hull catchment.
3. Soil moisture deficit
Soils were classified as wet at the start of the month, with the exception of the lower Hull and Ouse catchments which were normal. There was little change in the first 2 weeks except the lower parts of the Don, Calder and Aire dried slightly into the normal range. In the second half of the month soils began to drain, with SMD increasing by around 25mm in the western Pennines and by 35mm to 40mm elsewhere. At month end most of Yorkshire’s soils were in the normal range with the lower Hull and Ouse classed as dry.
4. River flows
Monthly mean flows were normal to above normal for most catchments, between 84% and 140% of the LTA and below normal in the Rother at 45% of the LTA. Catchments with more groundwater support from previous wet months, namely the Rye, Derwent and Hull had above normal monthly mean flows compared with normal values in the Pennine catchments.
From the beginning of June most Yorkshire catchments were reporting daily mean flows in the normal to above normal range and this pattern continued for the first 14 days. Flows generally declined, with small fluctuations in response to rainfall. The Don and Rother recorded their highest flow of the month on day 10 and 9 respectively although this was not a major flow peak.
Flows increased during the third week of June to notably high in the Yorkshire Dales catchments and the Esk, Rye and Derwent. Most rivers peaked on 15 or 16 July and the more slowly responding Ouse and Derwent on 17 July. The Calder and Don fluctuated between normal and above normal range.
Flow receded for the last week of the month and returned to the normal range for June, with the Rother reaching below normal. The Chalk-fed West Beck had slowly declining flows throughout the month, but still within the above normal range for June.
5. Groundwater levels
5.1 Magnesian Limestone
The groundwater level within the Magnesian Limestone at Brick House Farm continued to decrease but remained exceptionally high for the time of year.
5.2 Millstone Grit
The groundwater level decreased within the Millstone Grit at Hill Top Farm and remained normal for the time of 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 decreased. Levels at Great Ouseburn remained exceptionally high but Riccall Approach Farm decreased to above normal.
5.4 Corallian Limestone
The groundwater level decreased within the Corallian Limestone at Sproxton into the normal range for the time of year.
5.5 Chalk
The groundwater level decreased at both Wetwang (northern Yorkshire Wolds chalk) and Dalton Estate (central Yorkshire Wolds chalk). Levels at both sites were above normal for the time of year.
6. Reservoir stocks
A small 4.3% decline of overall reservoir stocks occurred from the start to the end of the month. At the end of June stocks were 4% above the LTA.
Author: Yorkshire Hydrology, 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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