Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 3 to 10 October 2025

Updated 10 October 2025

Applies to England

1. Summary

We have moved the area in Sussex supplied by South East Water to drought status due to declining water levels at Ardingly Reservoir. 

Despite improving conditions in north-west England due to recent rainfall, there is a worsening situation in parts of the south-east. The first week of October was wet, particularly across northern England due to the passage of Storm Amy across the country. River flows increased in most places. Soils remain very dry in the east and south-east. Overall reservoir storage for England rose slightly but continues to fall across south-east, east and south-west England. With a dry spell of weather over the next week forecast reservoir levels are likely to continue to fall in these areas and remain stable elsewhere.

Above average rainfall in September has brought improvements or stabilisation in the water situation for some water companies, especially those in the north-west. Further significant rainfall over a sustained period is needed to return to normal conditions. The potential for a return to dry conditions means we should continue to manage demand for water carefully over the autumn. The four 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 7 October were 66%, an increase of 2% since the previous week. Reservoir levels continue to fall at just over half of reservoirs or reservoir groups. South East Water’s Ardingly reservoir in Sussex has dropped to very low levels and now has 28% of total storage remaining. 

Farmers and growers are continuing to experience issues with drier conditions having returned across the south and east, leading to concerns regarding refill of winter storage reservoirs for next year’s irrigation season. Drier conditions and low river flows in the south and east mean that hands off flow restrictions on abstraction licences remain. There are currently 456 restrictions in force on abstraction licences (a decrease of 27 from last week).

There was a slight increase in environmental incidents this week. There are still some reports of dry weather-related incidents, mostly in the east.

Some parts of the Canal & River Trust network (14%) are still closed or restricted, mainly in northern and central England, but the recent rainfall has improved the water situation. Ongoing engineering works has also led to closures. The west side of the Leeds and Liverpool canal and the eastern side of the Rochdale canal are 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. Low flows continue to impact on navigation on the River Little Ouse in Norfolk.

2. Area drought status

There has been one change in area drought status this week. Drought has been declared in Sussex for the area supplied by South East Water due to declining water levels at Ardingly Reservoir.

2.1 Areas in drought

• Cumbria & Lancashire (CLA)
• Greater Manchester Merseyside & Cheshire (GMMC)
• Yorkshire (YOR)
• East Midlands (EMD)
• West Midlands (WMD)
• parts of Sussex within South East Water supply areas

2.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

• North East (NEA)
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire (LNA)
• East Anglia (EAN)
• Thames (THM)
• Wessex (WSX)
• Solent and South Downs (SSD) – remaining parts of area not in drought status

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 first week of October, England received 23mm or 25% of the October Long Term Average (LTA) as Storm Amy crossed the country. It was wettest across northern England which received 36% of the LTA, while across the south less than 20% LTA was received.

Soil moisture deficits have reduced this week across all areas and are now close to or wetter than the LTA for this time of year across the north-west, north-east and south-west. However, across south-east and eastern England in particular, soil moisture deficits are still more than 100mm, much drier that we would normally expect at this time of year.

River flows increased at most sites this week. Where the most rainfall was received, river flows are normal or higher for the time of year. In areas which received less rain and where soil moisture deficits persist, river flows are typically normal or lower. There are notably low flows in the Kennet valley, across the Broads and in Lincolnshire. Flows at Denver on the Ely Ouse are exceptionally low for the time of year. 

Reservoir storage for week ending 7 October was 65.8%. Overall, this is a slight increase on last week, however this national figure masks the fact that just over half of reservoir levels are still falling. The greatest weekly changes were a weekly rise of 7.1% in Yorkshire stocks and fall of 2.5% at Ardingly Reservoir in Sussex. Ardingly, Clatworthy and Wimbleball reservoirs are all at or below 30% full.

As expected at this time of year, groundwater levels continue to recede across most sites in England. 

Groundwater levels at many sites in chalk aquifers across the country from Yorkshire to the Wessex and South Downs are below normal or lower for the time of year, including 2 sites that are exceptionally low. Meanwhile, levels in the Chilterns, North Downs and across parts of East Anglia are generally in their normal range for the time of year. Sites in limestone aquifers in the east and south-east of England are also below normal or lower. 

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

4. Public water supply

Most water companies continue to follow their drought plans. Several water companies have seen water resource improvements or levelling off due to the recent rainfall and storm. However, further significant rainfall is needed to return to normal conditions. Concern is moving now towards recovery of water resources over the autumn and winter if conditions are dry. Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level 1 escalating to level 4.  

4.1 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 and Essex South. There is no significant change to its water resource position from last week.

4.2 Bristol Water

Remains at drought level 2. Reservoir storage decline has levelled off due to recent rainfall. Bristol Water is working to get one of its sources back online. 

4.3 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

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

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

Remains in drought level 1. There has been a decline in storage since last week.

4.7 Severn Trent Water

Has seen some improvements in reservoir levels. Has moved to business as usual for its Central and North Staffs zones and drought level 1a (from 1b) for Strategic Grid North for its Derwent Valley Reservoirs. Remains at drought level 1b in its Strategic Grid for its North Carsington & Ogston reservoirs supply area.

4.8 Southern Water

Remains at drought level 2 in its Isle of Wight supply area and Southampton West has moved into drought level 1. Southern Water implemented a TUB on 21 July for customers in these areas. Southern Water 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 recent rainfall, the drought order application was withdrawn on 3 October.

4.9 South East Water

Remains in drought level 3 in its resource zones 2 and 3 as of 22 September. This is due to dropping storage in Ardingly reservoir which is at 27.6% (a reduction of 2.7% since last week) total capacity and is of concern. South East Water was granted its Ardingly winter drought permit on 22 September and is planning to apply for its River Ouse drought order to Defra on 10 October. South East Water implemented a TUB for customers in Kent and Sussex areas, from the 18 July 2025. The company is closely monitoring its Arlington reservoir, which is at 38.9% (a 2.9% reduction since last week) usable capacity.

For more details check the Water latest for South East Water.

4.10 South Staffordshire Water

Remains at drought level 2. Blithfield reservoir has increased since last week from 42% to 43%.

4.11 Thames Water

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

4.12 United Utilities

Remains in Enhanced Monitoring and Operations in its Strategic Grid supply area and is in business as usual in its Carlisle resource zone. The company’s Pennine reservoirs have stabilised and seeing increases in storage.

4.13 Wessex Water

Remains at drought level 1b. There has been a slight increase in resource position due to rainfall over the weekend.

4.14 Yorkshire Water

Remains in drought level 3. Reservoir storage has improved again slightly this week. Supply reservoirs total storage is up 6.6% to 53.1%. 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. We have now granted 38 drought permits to Yorkshire Water. The 2 Wharfe drought permits and the Ouse drought order were issued on 22 August. We have granted the south group drought permits (7 permits) on 5 September. The north-west group (12 permits) were granted 10 September. The south-west group were granted 17 permits, with the final 10 granted on 3 October. North Group (5 permits) is currently in the final stages of determination.

For more details check the Yorkshire Water website.

5. Agriculture

Rainfall in September has helped ease pressure on the agriculture sector but drier conditions have returned this week particularly across the south and east parts of the country. Drought conditions remain in many parts of the country. Despite the rainfall in September, there are still concerns regarding the imminent refill of reservoirs this winter and water availability for the irrigation season next year.

With the 2025 harvest season almost complete, this year’s harvest has been challenging for many growers, with a high degree of variability with crop yields quality across the country. Crops such as wheat, oats and barley are generally below the 10-year average. The greatest variation was seen in wheat yields across the country with some farms performing well but generally yields are 6.1% below the ten-year average.

Livestock farmers are continuing to face a shortage of forage and rising costs due to poor grass growth this summer, 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. Emergency grants are available to support livestock farmers most in need. Temporary rule changes are also being requested to allow early cutting or grazing of forage under agri-environment schemes. Concerns remain heading into the winter on feed availability for livestock.

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.

It has been a dry week particularly across the south and east and as a result there are currently 456 hands off flow restrictions in force on abstraction licences, where river flows remain low.

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 are procuring 11 Local Resources Option screening studies to help improve farmers long term water resources resilience.

Hemlock poisoning has been reported in livestock in Wales this summer. Dry weather and exposed ditches increase the risk of animals foraging toxic plants like Hemlock. We advise that farmers should stay alert to this. We continue to proactively update our drought weather communications, detailing the current drought situation, with support available to help farmers improve access to water and preparation for this winter. Our Environment Agency dry weather farming blog and Water Hub webpage contains further information.

6. Energy

There are no known issues with the energy sector.  

7. Environment

There was a small increase in the numbers of confirmed environmental incidents caused by drought and dry weather this week. This continues the recent trend in response to the cooler, wetter weather for September. Total numbers for 2025 are now at 271 incidents.  

Numbers of confirmed (category 1 to 3) abstraction or low flow incidents remain similar to corresponding counts from 2018 and 2020, and well below 2022 figures. Numbers of estimated and confirmed (category 1 to 3) abstraction or low flow incidents nonetheless continue to rise with six reports this week.

The confirmed numbers of fish mortality incidents caused by drought and dry weather remain below corresponding counts from previous years. The increase in the number of estimated and confirmed (category 1 to 3) incidents with fish mortality has slowed, although there was a slight rise last week. The need for fish rescues by Environment Agency Fisheries teams has reduced but monitoring of sites continues.

There have been 86 days of Severn Regulation this year. Following rainfall over the past month, 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 five drought orders to protect the environment:

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

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

8. Navigation

Following rainfall in September, the Canal & River Trust have been able to open some sections of canals. This includes the west side of the Leeds and Liverpool canal and the eastern side of the Rochdale canal between Walsden and Sowerby Bridge. The Winterburn Reservoir has filled very quickly and as a result the drought order for Winterburn has been withdrawn. However, despite the recent rain, the overall canal reservoir storage levels remain low. This is due to a combination of the dry conditions this year and ongoing engineering works. 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.

Approximately 280 miles (14%) of the network is still closed, compared to 400 miles (20%) of the network closed during the summer. There are concerns on the prospects for maintaining water supplies on some canals due the continuation of low levels and the lack of recharge of supply reservoirs. The Trust continues to monitor the situation and will reopen further canals as water levels improve. The latest closures and restrictions are listed on the Canal & River Trust website.

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 at Farmoor. Low flows continue to impact on navigation on the River Little Ouse downstream of Brandon Lock to Hockwold cum Wilton. A navigation advisory notice for the area was issued on 29 September and closed river signs will be installed at Hockwold for navigation.

9. Weather forecast

The weather expected to be dry over the next week with high pressure keeping the conditions settled.  

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
• planning for potential continuation of dry weather into winter and spring using the latest drought prospects information from water companies and other sectors
• 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.