Research and analysis

Devon and Cornwall water situation: January 2026 summary

Updated 17 February 2026

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

Devon and Cornwall received 191% of the January long term average (LTA) rainfall, which was exceptionally high for the time of year, and the wettest January on record. Soil moisture deficit (SMD) was near 0mm for most of January. Monthly mean river flows were normal to exceptionally high for the time of year across the area. Groundwater levels ended the month between normal and exceptionally high for the time of year. Total reservoir storage across Devon and Cornwall on 25 January was 89%, with Wimbleball, Colliford and Roadford at 90%, 76% and 93% respectively.

2. Rainfall

Devon and Cornwall received 264mm of rain during January (191% of the January LTA), which is exceptionally high for the time of year. The first week of January was fairly dry, before becoming increasingly unsettled throughout the remainder of the month. The last ten days of the month saw significant rainfall, with the wettest day on 26 January recording 40mm of rain on average across the area, and provisional data suggests daily rainfall totals of up to 100mm in some places. This was the wettest January, and the 5th wettest October (start of water year) to January period on record.

All hydrological areas reported exceptionally high rainfall for the time of year, except Taw and North Devon Streams and Torridge and Hartland Streams which were notably high 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 except for the Taw and North Devon Streams hydrological area, which recorded above normal rainfall, and the Torridge and Hartland Streams and Exe hydrological areas, which recorded notably high rainfall. Over the last 12 months, rainfall was normal to exceptionally high across the area.

3. Soil moisture deficit 

SMD in the Devon and Cornwall area was less than 10mm at the beginning of January, before reducing to near 0mm for most of the month. SMD was within 5 mm of the LTA SMD for January across the area. The SMD at the end of January was below 10mm in every hydrological area.

4. River flows

January monthly mean river flows ranged from notably high to exceptionally high across Cornwall and south and east Devon. Monthly mean river flows were lower at Thorverton on the river Exe and Torrington on the River Torridge, which were both classed as normal, and at Umberleigh on the river Taw, which was classed as above normal for the time of year.

All sites showed normal to notably high flows in the first two weeks of the month, before increasing sharply to exceptionally high in the second half of the month. Daily mean flows on 31 January ranged from notably high to exceptionally high across Devon and Cornwall, except for flows at Bellever on the river Dart which ended the month above normal for the time of year.

5. Groundwater levels   

On 27 January, groundwater levels were classed as follows:

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

Groundwater levels at all sites are recovering after their summer and autumn recession. 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 89% on 25 January, which is an overall increase of 9% since 28 December. This is lower than storage at the same time in 2022 (the most recent drought year), which was 91%. On 25 January, storage at Wimbleball, Colliford and Roadford was 90%, 76% and 93% respectively, compared to 94%, 74% and 98% 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.