Research and analysis

Water situation: February 2025 summary

Updated 12 March 2025

Applies to England

In February, rainfall was below the long term average (LTA) for England; across southern England rainfall it was typically above average while across central and northern England it was below average. Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) were close to zero across England, and soils remain wetter than would be expected in parts of east, south-east, and north-east England. Monthly mean river flows decreased at most of the sites we report on, however, the majority of flows continue to be classed as normal or higher for the time of year. Groundwater levels increased at many sites; all sites were classed as normal or higher for the time of year. Reservoirs across England were reporting overall storage of 92% at the end of February which was unchanged from the end of January.

1. Rainfall

In February, England received 52mm of rainfall which represents 91% of the 1961 to 1990 LTA for the time of year (79% of the 1991 to 2020 LTA). A small majority of hydrological areas (55%) received above average rainfall during February.

The wettest hydrological area, as a percentage of the LTA, was Berkshire Downs in the south-east, having received 148% LTA rainfall (78mm). In contrast the driest hydrological areas, relative to their LTA were the Dove and Upper Trent in central England, with each area reporting 48% and 50% LTA (33mm and 26mm respectively).

Rainfall totals during February were classed as normal or higher across the east, south-east, and south-west of the county, whereas areas in the north-east, north-west, central and east reported totals classed as normal or below normal. Rainfall totals across 107 areas (77%) were classed as normal for the time of year, with 7 sites (5%) in the south-east and south-west classed as above normal for the time of year. Twenty-five (18%) hydrological areas mostly in the north-east and parts of the north-west, central and east were classed as below normal for the time of year. At a regional scale, rainfall was classed as normal in all regions except for the north-east where it was classed as below normal for the time of year, with England classed as normal

The 3-month cumulative totals were classed as normal across most of England, with the far north-east being classed as below normal, and parts of central, south-west England classed as above normal. Over the last 6-months, rainfall totals have been above normal and higher across much of south-west, south-east, east and central England. Across north-east and north-west England rainfall totals have been normal or below normal. The 12-month cumulative totals were classed as above normal or higher across all of England.

2. Soil moisture deficit

As is expected in February, SMDs were close to zero across England at the end of the month, as soils remain fully wetted following a wetter than average winter across most of the country. At the end of February, soils continue to be wetter than would be expected across parts of the south-east, east and north-east of England, with SMDs around average for the rest of the country.

3. River flows

Monthly mean river flows decreased at over four-fifths of the sites we report on in February. However, flows at the majority (85%) of sites continue to be classed as being normal or higher for the time of year. More than two-thirds of sites (37) were classed as normal for the time of year.  The highest classed flows were reported in the south-east and south-west of England where 7 sites were above normal, with a further 3 as notably high. River flow at 7 sites, mostly in the north-east and north-west of England was classed as below normal for the time of year. Haydon Bridge (South Tyne) in north-east England was the only site was classed as notably low.

During February monthly mean river flow at all regional index sites decreased when compared to January. Despite a reduction, naturalised monthly mean flow at Kingston (Thames) remains higher than expected and is classed as above normal for the time of year. Flows were classed as:

• normal at 3 sites – Offord (Bedford Ouse), Horton (Great Stour), and Thorveton (Exe)
• below normal at 2 sites – Marston-on-Dove (Dove) and Caton (Lune)
• notably low at one site – Haydon Bridge (South Tyne)

4. Groundwater levels   

At the end of February, most reporting sites (58%) had recorded an increase in groundwater levels, with 11 sites (42%) seeing a decrease compared to the previous month. All sites were classed as normal or higher for the time of year, with just under two-thirds classed as above normal or higher, there were:

• 11 sites (42% of the total) classed as normal
• 7 (27%) sites classed as above normal
• 4 sites (15%) classed as notably high – most of which are in chalk aquifers
• 4 sites (15%) classed as exceptionally high for the time of year – including Weir Farm in the Bridgnorth Sandstone (central England) which recorded the highest end of February level since records began in 1983

Groundwater levels at aquifer index sites varied across England, with roughly half of sites reporting an increase by the end of February. Groundwater levels were classed as normal for the time of year at 4 sites:

• Dalton Estate Well (Hull and East riding Chalk)
• Skirwith (Carlisle Basin Sandstone)
• Little Bucket (East Kent Stour Chalk)
• Jackaments Bottom (Burford Jurassic Limestone)

Levels at Chilgrove (Chichester Chalk) were classed as above normal, with Redlands Hall (Cam Ely Ouse Chalk) classed as notably high for the time of year. Levels at the remaining 2 sites Weir Farm (Bridgnorth Sandstone) and Stonor Park (South West Chilterns Chalk) were classed as exceptionally high for the time of year.

5. Reservoir storage

During February, reservoir stocks increased at half of the reservoirs and reservoirs groups we report on. The large increases were reported at Hanningfield and Stithians reservoirs in the east and south-west respectively which both saw an increase of 9% .

By the end of February reservoir storage levels across the country ranged from notably low, to exceptionally high. Haweswater and Thirlmere, and the Dee system, which supply north-west England, were classed as notably low for the time of year as they were impacted by planned maintenance in the resource zone and drawdown for reservoir safety work respectively. Fifteen reservoirs were classed as normal for the time of year, and 7 as above normal. Five reservoirs were classed as below normal for the time of year. Levels at Farmoor in south-east England have been impacted by turbidity issues restricting refill. Refill at Abberton in east England was impacted by reservoir safety works which are now complete, these works followed a prolonged period of restricted refill over winter due to infrastructure constraints. By the end of February total storage across England was reported as 92%, the same value as reported at the end of January.

6. Forward look

March started with drier, milder conditions for many. Wetter and windier conditions are expected in mid-March for many areas, with an increased likelihood of unsettled weather in places. Some mid-month sunnier spells can also be expected although temperatures are likely to remain below normal. Towards the end of March, conditions are expected to remain changeable, with wet and windy conditions interspersed by dry and bright spells.

For the 3-month period from March to May there is a higher than average chance of conditions being warmer, drier and windier than would be expected for the period. Although conditions are likely to be milder than average overall, colder spells remain possibly early in the period however a cool spring is very unlikely.

Author: National Water Resources Hydrology Team, nationalhydrology@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.