Devon and Cornwall water situation: February 2026 summary
Updated 12 March 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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1. Summary
Devon and Cornwall received 180% of the February long term average (LTA) rainfall, which was notably high for the time of year. Soil moisture deficit (SMD) was slightly lower (wetter) than the LTA for February. Monthly mean river flows were notably high to exceptionally high for the time of year across the area. Groundwater levels ended the month between notably high and exceptionally high for the time of year. Total reservoir storage across Devon and Cornwall on 22 February was 96%, with Wimbleball, Colliford and Roadford at 100%, 87% and 100% respectively.
2. Rainfall
Devon and Cornwall received 192mm of rain during February (180% of the February LTA), which is notably high for the time of year. The month has been unsettled, with rain falling every day across the area. The driest spell was between 22 and 25 February, before the wettest day on 26 February. This was the 11th wettest February, and the 3rd wettest October (start of water year) to February period on record.
All hydrological areas reported notably high rainfall for the time of year, except the Otter, Sid, Axe and Lim, Avon, Dart and Erme and West Cornwall, which reported exceptionally high rainfall for the time of year.
Cumulative rainfall for the last 3 months was exceptionally high across the area except for the Taw and North Devon Streams, which experienced notably high rainfall. Over the last 6 months, rainfall was exceptionally high across the area. Over the last 12 months, rainfall was notably high to exceptionally high across Devon and Cornwall, except for the Taw and North Devon Streams, which recorded above normal rainfall.
3. Soil moisture deficit
SMD in the Devon and Cornwall area was close to 0mm during the whole of February. SMD was within 5mm of the LTA SMD for February across the area and was lower (wetter) than the LTA for the whole month.
4. River flows
February monthly mean river flows were exceptionally high across south west and south east Cornwall and eastern parts of Devon. Notably high flows were recorded across the rest of the area.
All sites peaked with exceptionally high flows in the first week of February and fluctuated between normal and exceptionally high for the rest of the month in response to unsettled weather. Daily mean flows on 28 February ranged from above normal to exceptionally high across Devon and Cornwall.
5. Groundwater levels
On 24 February, groundwater levels were classed as follows:
- notably high at Woodleys No1 (monitoring the Otterton Sandstone Formation), Coleford Production (monitoring the Permian Breccias and Sandstones) and Branscombe Lane (monitoring the Dawlish Sandstone)
- exceptionally high at Bussels No7A (monitoring the Dawlish sandstone), Winnards Perch (monitoring the Staddon Formation), Woodbury Common No2 (monitoring the Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds), and Whitlands (monitoring the Upper Greensand)
Groundwater levels at all sites are close to their seasonal peaks. All sites have either increased or remained within the same band. Winnards Perch’s hydrograph is very ‘noisy’, as levels at this site respond quickly to rainfall variations due to the low storage of the secondary aquifer which it monitors.
6. Reservoir stocks
Total reservoir storage was 96% on 22 February, which is an overall increase of 7% since 25 January. This is higher than storage at the end of February 2022 (the most recent drought year), which was 94%. On 22 February, storage at Wimbleball, Colliford and Roadford was 100%, 87% and 100% respectively, compared to 99%, 76% and 100% 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 information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.