Research and analysis

Devon and Cornwall water situation: April 2026 summary

Updated 13 May 2026

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

1. Summary

Devon and Cornwall received 36mm of rain during April (46% of the April long term average, LTA), which is below normal for the time of year. Soil moisture deficit (SMD) was higher (drier) than the LTA for April. April monthly mean river flows were below normal to normal across the area. Groundwater levels ended the month between below normal and exceptionally high for the time of year. Total reservoir storage across Devon and Cornwall on 26 April was 94%, with Wimbleball, Colliford and Roadford at 94%, 90% and 96% respectively.

2. Rainfall

Devon and Cornwall received 36mm of rain during April (46% of the April LTA), which is below normal for the time of year. The month has been fairly dry, with two-thirds of April’s rain falling between 10 and 17 April.

Most hydrological areas reported below normal rainfall for the time of year, except the West Cornwall and Exe hydrological areas, which recorded normal and notably low rainfall respectively.

Cumulative rainfall for the last 3 months was normal across the area except for the following hydrological areas which experienced above normal rainfall, the:

• Avon Dart and Erme
• Otter, Sid, Axe and Lim
• West Cornwall
• Fal and St Austell

Over the last 6 months, rainfall was exceptionally high across the area except for the following hydrological areas which recorded exceptionally high rainfall, the:

• Taw and North Devon Streams
• Torridge and Hartland Streams
• Exe hydrological areas

Over the last 12 months, rainfall was above normal to exceptionally high across the area.

3. Soil moisture deficit

SMD in Devon and Cornwall increased (became drier) during April in response to the drier weather. At the end of the month, SMD was between 41mm and 70mm across the area. In the Seaton, Looe and Fowey and North Cornwall hydrological areas, SMD was 6mm to 25mm higher (drier) than the LTA for April. The rest of the area was 26mm to 50mm higher (drier) than the LTA.

4. River flows

April monthly mean river flows were below normal across most of the area, with normal flows recorded on the:

• River Dart at Bellever
• River Fowey at Restormel
• River Hayle at St Erth

Daily mean flow was lower at the end of the month than at the start at all reporting sites, with most sites demonstrating minimal response to the rainfall throughout the month.

Daily mean flows on 30 April were notably low at the following sites, the:

• River Teign at Chudleigh Bridge
• River Taw at Umberleigh
• River Exe at Thorverton,

Normal flows were recorded at the:

• River Otter at Dotton
• River Dart at Bellever
• River Hayle at St Erth

All other sites in the area were below normal.

5. Groundwater levels   

On 30 April, groundwater levels were classed as follows:

• below normal at Winnards Perch (monitoring the Staddon Formation)
• normal at Coleford Production (monitoring the Permian Breccias and Sandstones)
• above normal at Bussels No7A (monitoring the Dawlish sandstone)
• notably high at Woodleys No1 (monitoring the Otterton Sandstone Formation), Woodbury Common No2 (monitoring the Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds), and Branscombe Lane (monitoring the Dawlish Sandstone)
• exceptionally high at Whitlands (monitoring the Upper Greensand)

Groundwater levels at all sites are in their seasonal recession. The faster-responding, lower aquifer storage sites such as Winnards Perch have responded rapidly to the recent low rainfall, in the same way as the surface water flow sites have. In contrast, groundwater levels at the sites whose aquifers have higher storage, such as Whitlands, are receding only slowly.

6. Reservoir stocks

Total reservoir storage was 94% on 26 April, which is an overall decrease of 3% since the end of March. This is higher than storage at the end of April 2022 (the most recent drought year), which was 89%. On 26 April, storage at Wimbleball, Colliford and Roadford was 94%, 90% and 96% respectively, compared to 95%, 76% and 95% at the same time in 2022.

Author: Devon and Cornwall Hydrology, hydrology.dandc@environment-agency.gov.uk

All data are provisional and maybe subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily the views of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants, or agents accept no liability for loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the mation, or reliance upon views contained in this report.