Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 19 to 25 September 2025

Updated 26 September 2025

Applies to England

1. Summary

Although, there has been significant rainfall over northern England, the drought is far from over. In the week to 23 September, there was a clear north-south divide in rainfall totals, with the north-west receiving 62mm of rainfall while the south-east received just 3mm. Rainfall totals for September so far are now at or above the September long term monthly averages across all regions although in some areas of East Anglia rainfall remains below average for September.

Although recent rainfall has brought improvements or stabilisation for some water companies, further significant rainfall is needed to return to normal conditions. The potential for a return to dry conditions means we should continue to manage demand for water and water resources carefully over the autumn. The 4 water companies who have implemented temporary use bans (TUBs), will need to keep these on, until their resource position has returned to normal – this may stretch well into the winter.  As soils become wetter, they start to move, and this causes leakage so all water companies need to continue with enhanced leakage management. 

The rain has helped with public water supply reservoir storage, particularly in parts of northern England. Reservoir stocks across England for the period ending 23 September 2025 were 64%, rising 7% in the week. Reservoir levels are now rising at over a third of reservoirs but continue to fall at over half of reservoirs or reservoir groups. The Pennine stocks are now 50.4% and Yorkshire Water’s stocks had a dramatic rise by nearly 15% to nearly 46%. However, this is not an evenly distributed picture, and their reservoir stocks levels remain below average for the time of year. With the return to drier weather, reservoir levels are likely to drop again.

Famers and growers have welcomed rainfall in September, but this has not been enough to alleviate concerns in the agriculture sector regarding water availability this winter and for next year’s irrigation season. The drier conditions in the south have led to an increase in hands off flow restrictions and to date there are 528 restrictions (up from 433) in force on abstraction licences where river flows remain low.

The increase in environmental incidents has slowed this week. There are still reports of dry weather-related incidents, mostly in the south and east, but also run-off related incidents following the rainfall further north.

Some parts of the Canal & River Trust network are still closed or restricted, mainly in northern and central England, but the rain has improved the water situation. The west side of the Leeds and Liverpool canal is now open due to recovering water levels. The Environment Agency, as the navigational authority for the River Thames, has been managing challenging conditions in the Oxford area and balancing levels for navigation and Thames Water’s abstraction.

2. Area drought status

There have been no changes in Environment Agency Area drought status this week (see map).

2.1 Areas in drought

Areas in drought:

• Cumbria & Lancashire (CLA)
• Greater Manchester Merseyside & Cheshire (GMMC)
• Yorkshire (YOR)
• East Midlands (EMD)
• West Midlands (WMD)

2.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

Areas in prolonged dry weather (PDW):

• North East (NEA)
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire (LNA)
• East Anglia (EAN)
• Thames (THM)
• Wessex (WSX)
• Solent and South Downs (SSD)

2.3 How the stages of drought response work

Each area is reviewing its status depending on the triggers they have outlined in their drought plan.

More detail of how we manage drought, including our 4 stages of drought response, is available in Drought: how it is managed in England.

3. Current water situation

In the week to 23 September, there was a clear north-south divide in rainfall totals, with the north-west receiving 62mm of rainfall while the south-east received just 3mm. Rainfall totals for September so far are now at or above the September long term monthly averages across all regions, ranging from 166% of the long term monthly average in north-east England, to 100% of the long term monthly average in east England. England as whole has received 140% of the long term average (LTA) for September. In some areas of East Anglia rainfall remains below average for September.

Soil moisture deficits have continued to reduce significantly across most of England and are now close to or less than the LTA for the time of year across much of England. The exception is east England where soils remain drier than would be expected for the time of year.

Despite another wet week for parts of England, river flows decreased at the majority of sites this week when compared to the previous week. Twenty-eight river flow sites (51%) were normal for the time of year. A quarter of sites were classed as above normal or higher for the time of year, most of which were in the north-east, north-west and central England. Thirteen sites were below normal or lower for the time of year, the majority of which were in east and south-east England. 

In the week ending 23 September, reservoir storage levels for England were 64%, after a 7.5% rise. Reservoir stocks rose in just over a third of reservoirs, with many of these reservoirs seeing an increase of more than 10% in the week. The remaining reservoirs continued to see a decline in storage and Ardingly, Clatworthy and Wimbleball all have storage levels below 40%. The Yorkshire group is now 46% full, and the Pennines group is 50% full.

As we would expect at this time of year, groundwater levels continue to recede across England. Levels in the Wessex Downs, Cotswolds and parts of the South Downs are exceptionally low for the time of year. Levels in chalk aquifers in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and parts of the North Downs are below normal or notably low. Levels in the Chilterns, North Downs and across parts of East Anglia are in their normal range for the time of year.

More details are available in our water situation reports for England.

4. Public water supply

Most water companies continue to follow their drought plans. However, some water companies are not implementing all the actions they have identified in their plans. Several water companies have seen water resource improvements or levelling off due to the recent rainfall. However further significant rainfall is needed to return to normal conditions.

Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level 1 escalating to level 4.

4.1 Anglian Water

Anglian Water remains at drought level 1 in the following supply areas:

• Fenland
• Lincolnshire Central
• Norfolk Norwich and the Broads
• Ruthamford Central, North, South, and West
• Essex South

There is no significant change to its water resource position from last week.

4.2 Bristol Water

Bristol Water remains at drought level 2. Reservoir storage has decreased slightly this week. The company is working to get one of its sources back online. 

4.3 Cambridge Water

Cambridge Water remains at drought level 1. There is no significant change to its water resource position from last week.

4.4 Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex and Suffolk Water remains at drought level 1 in its Essex and Northern Central supply areas. No significant change to water resource position from last week.

4.5 Northumbrian Water

Northumbrian Water remains at drought level 1. The Company is using Kielder and other sources to provide support to some of its smaller reservoirs. We continue working with the company to understand and review potential actions that may be required.

4.6 SES Water

SES Water remains in drought level 1. There is no significant change to its water resource position from last week.

4.7 Severn Trent Water

Severn Trent Water remains at drought level 1b in its North Staffs and Strategic Grid North supply areas and at drought level 1a in its Central area. Some reservoirs have seen increases since last week.

4.8 Southern Water

Southern Water remains at drought level 2 in its Southampton West and Isle of Wight supply areas and implemented a TUB on 21 July for customers in these areas. The company applied to Defra on 18 July for a drought order to alter its River Test abstraction licence conditions and included an application for a non-essential use drought order. Following an objection to the drought order, a hearing took place on 28 August. The drought order application remains on hold as requested by Southern Water due to recent rainfall increasing river flow on the River Test.

4.9 South East Water

South East Water remains at drought level 2. The company implemented a TUB in its Kent and Sussex supply areas on 18 July. Storage at Arlington and Ardingly reservoirs has decreased since last week. SEW applied for the Ardingly winter drought permit on 28 August, this permit was granted on 22 September. The company is reviewing further actions that may be required. More detail is available here: Water latest – South East Water

4.10 South West Water

South West Water remains in drought level 1 in its Colliford supply area. There is no significant change to its water resource position from last week.

4.11 South Staffordshire Water

South Staffordshire Water remains at drought level 2. Blithfield reservoir has increased since last week.

4.12 Thames Water

Thames Water remains at drought level 2 in its Swindon and Oxfordshire supply area (SWOX) and drought level 1 in its London zone. The company implemented a TUB for its SWOX customers on 22 July.

4.13 United Utilities

United Utilities remains in enhanced monitoring and operations (EMO) in its Strategic Grid supply area and its Carlisle resource zone. The company’s Pennine reservoirs have increased after the recent rainfall but continue to remain of concern due to low levels. The company is taking additional operational actions to conserve Pennine reservoir stocks.

4.14 Wessex Water

Wessex Water remains at drought level 1b. There is no significant change to its water resource position from last week.

4.15 Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water remains in drought level 3. Reservoir storage has improved again this week. The expectation is that once drought permits are implemented, this should assist the recovery in levels or slow any further decline. The company implemented a TUB on 11 July. Twenty-one drought permits have been granted, the:

• 2 Wharfe drought permits, and the Ouse drought order were granted on 22 August
• north west group (12 drought permits) have been granted (10 on 5 September and 2 on the 10 September)
• south group (7 drought permits) have been granted (5 September)

Yorkshire Water applied for its south west group (17 drought permits) on 4 September, 7 of the permits have been granted (24 September) 10 are still being determined. The company have applied for its north group of permits (6 permits). More detail is available on Yorkshire Water’s website.

5. Agriculture

Famers and growers have welcomed rainfall in September, but this has not been enough to alleviate concerns in the agriculture sector regarding water availability this winter and for next year irrigation season

With the 2025 harvest season almost complete, this year has seen a mixed harvest with generally lower and poorer quality crop yields due to the long dry spell. Wheat has seen the greatest variation across the country with some farmers performing well but generally yields are 6.1% below the 10-year average.

Heading into the autumn, livestock farmers are continuing to face a shortage of forage and rising costs due to poor grass growth and low-quality hay and straw, due to this year dry conditions. This has resulted in many farmers using winter feed early this year and are now buying extra or selling animals to cope. The Addington Fund has launched emergency grants to support those most in need. Temporary rule changes are also being requested to allow early cutting or grazing of forage under agri-environment schemes.

Growers are now making decisions about next year’s crops and with the irrigation season complete, attention is now turning to refilling of winter storage reservoirs. There are concerns about water availability for next year especially if we have a dry autumn and winter. This will affect the ability for farmers to replenish irrigation reservoirs, especially if groundwater and river flows remain low.

Last week saw significant rainfall in the north and west, whilst the south and east saw drier conditions. Currently there are 528 hands off flow restrictions in force on abstraction licences where river flows remain low, a slight increase from last week.

We continue to engage and support the agriculture sector into the autumn and winter season. We have received 30 flexible abstraction requests to date. These help abstractors manage with the exceptionally dry weather.

We continue to proactively update our dry weather communications for the agriculture sector, through the Environment Agency dry weather farming blog and Water Hub webpage, to highlight support available to farmers to help improve access to water.

6. Energy

There are no known issues with the energy sector.

7. Environment

Numbers of confirmed environmental incidents caused by drought and dry weather showed only a small increase this week, continuing the recent trend in response to the cooler, wetter weather for September so far. Total numbers for 2025 are now at 252 incidents. There are still reports of dry weather-related incidents, mostly in the south and east, but also run-off related incidents following the rainfall further north.

Numbers of confirmed (category 1 to 3) abstraction or low flow incidents are similar to corresponding counts from 2018, 2019 and 2020, but remain well below 2022 figures. Numbers of estimated and confirmed (category 1 to 3) abstraction / low flow incidents have continued the recent, steady trend, with only 3 new reports this week.

The confirmed numbers of dead fish incidents caused by drought and dry weather remained stable this week with the wetter weather. They remain below corresponding counts from previous years. The increase in the number of estimated and confirmed (category 1 to 3) incidents with dead fish has slowed. Environment Agency Fisheries teams have continued with fish rescues in recent weeks and are monitoring sites regularly.

Severn Regulation: There have been 86 days of Severn Regulation this year. Following rainfall over the past few weeks, and forecast weather, river flows at Bewdley have increased and are unlikely to need further support from regulation releases to maintain the minimum prescribed flow.

The Environment Agency has applied for 5 drought orders to protect the environment:

• 2 for Holme Styes reservoir (granted 28 July and 3 September)
• one for Elslack reservoir (submitted on 26 June)
• one for Winterburn reservoir (submitted on 7 August)
• one for Belmont reservoir (submitted on 15 August)

Winterburn and Belmont have been withdrawn as recent rainfall has improved the situation.

8. Navigation

Following the rain this week Canal & River Trust have been able to open the west side of the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Despite the recent rain, some canal reservoir levels remain critically low. The Trust is monitoring the situation and will reopen canals as water levels improve.

The latest closures and restrictions are listed on Notices and stoppages – Canal & River Trust. The Canal & River Trust is still planning for contingency and emergency situations for several canals and has brought forward some winter engineering works whilst parts of the network are closed.

The Environment Agency, as the navigational authority for the River Thames, has been managing challenging conditions in the Oxford area and balancing levels for navigation and Thames Water abstraction. Low flows on the River Little Ouse have previously led to a narrow boat grounding and requiring rescuing at Brandon. An advisory notice is in force regarding low flows.

9. Weather forecast

Friday is expected to stay settled and dry before a band of rain moves east on Saturday, with the highest totals likely in the west and north-west. Breezier but brighter conditions are expected to return on Sunday. From Monday, another high-pressure system will develop, with conditions likely to be drier and more settled again, with sunshine and temperatures close to average.

10. Drought readiness actions

In response to the drought and dry weather, the Environment Agency continues to act by:

• operating our Gold command structure for our national incident response
• coordinating closely with water companies to implement statutory drought plans, taking necessary action to safeguard public water supplies
• activating drought plans for those Environment Agency Areas in drought and PDW status
• enhancing abstraction licence compliance checks and issuing hands off flow or level restrictions and warnings to some abstractors in areas experiencing low flows
• monitoring, preparing and responding to incidents caused by low river flows, particularly in those Environment Agency Areas in drought status
• preparing dry weather advice to fishery operators to help protect their waters
• hosting regular national drought meetings

The next National Drought Group meeting is scheduled for 30 October.

11. Contact us

Contact drought.national@environment-agency.gov.uk if you have questions about this report.