Midlands water situation: December 2025 summary
Updated 14 January 2026
Applies to England
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Rainfall – In December, 9 sites recorded above normal rainfall totals and 3 recorded normal rainfall totals compared to the long term average (LTA).
Soil moisture deficit - Soil moisture deficit (SMD) across the Midlands has increased in December, meaning soils have become drier than their LTA for the time of year.
River flows – In December, 2 sites in the Midlands recorded exceptionally high flow totals compared to their LTA, with all other sites above normal and notably high.
Groundwater levels – As of the end of December, all sites recorded normal or higher groundwater levels compared to the LTA with Rider Point recording exceptionally high groundwater levels.
Reservoir stocks – By the end of December, one reservoir recorded average storage level, 3 recorded below average storage levels and the rest recorded above average storage levels compared to the LTA.
1. Rainfall
In December, 9 of the Midlands hydrological catchments received above normal amounts of rainfall between 114% and 134% of rainfall compared to their LTA. These were:
- Lower Trent
- Soar
- Derwent
- Upper Trent
- Shropshire Plains
- Avon
- Lower Severn
- Lower Wye
The other 3 catchments largely situated in the west of the Midlands, received normal rainfall totals, between 93% to 113% of their LTA. These were situated in a band stretching from the north west of the Midlands to the centre.
Over the last 3 months, 7 catchments received notably high rainfall totals compared to their LTA. These catchments received between 125% to 140% of rainfall compared to their LTA. Two catchments received exceptionally high rainfall totals compared to their LTA while the remaining 3 received above normal rainfall totals compared to their LTA.
Over the last 6 months, 6 sites recorded normal rainfall totals compared to their LTA. These catchments received between 103% to 107% of their LTA. Four other catchments recorded above normal rainfall totals. They received between 109% to 120% of their LTA. The Derwent and Dove catchments in the north-east received notable high rainfall totals at 118% compared to their LTA.
Over the past year, 8 catchments largely in the north-east and south-west received normal rainfall totals compared to the LTA. The other 4 catchments in the central Midlands received below normal rainfall totals.
2. Soil moisture deficit and recharge
SMD across the Midlands in December has increased since last month, meaning soils have become drier. All of the hydrological catchments recorded SMD value of less than or equal to 10mm. Besides Lower Trent that recorded a difference between -25mm to -6mm of the LTA, all other catchments in the Midlands, recorded a difference between -5mm to 5mm from their LTAs.
3. River flows
In December, 2 sites recorded exceptionally high monthly mean flows, receiving between 201% to 227% of their LTA. These were Deerhurst and Ebley Mill. Six other sites recorded above normal monthly mean flows, receiving between 141% to 159% of their LTA. These were:
- Llanyblodwell
- Marston on Dove
- Kegworth
- Redbrook
- Clifton
- Whatstandwell
The rest of the sites recorded notably high monthly mean flows ranging from 121% to 185% of the LTA.
Wedderburn Bridge has been showing unreliable data from September 2024 onwards, therefore, data has been removed from this report. Due to current issues with recording at low flows affecting Deerhurst, data for Haw Bridge was used in place of Deerhurst.
4. Groundwater levels
At the end of December, 3 sites in the north-east of Midlands recorded above normal groundwater levels compared to their LTA. These were Coxmoor, Southards Lane and Crossley Hill. Rider Point recorded exceptionally high groundwater levels compared to its LTA. Weir Farm recorded notably high groundwater levels compared to its LTA. Four sites recorded normal groundwater levels compared to their LTA. These were Four Crosses, Ram Hall, St Mary’s Church and Anthony’s Cross.
5. Reservoir stocks
By the end of December, 7 of the Midlands reservoirs had above average storage compared to the LTA. They ranged between 80% at Draycote to 100% at Blithfield and Tittesworth. Three reservoirs had below average storage compared to the LTA. These were Dove and Carsington and Ogston. Storage levels for these reservoirs ranged from 63% at Dove to 75% at Carsington and Ogston. Clywedog reservoir had average storage compared to its LTA at 84%.
6. Environmental impact
Both the West Midlands and East Midlands moved into recovery incident status on 8 December 2025. We continue to work with water companies and other abstractors to manage water resources.
7. River Severn operations
The River Severn is regulated to maintain a minimum flow at Bewdley gauging station. This ensures sufficient water flows along the river to support environmental and water supply requirements. Regulation is instigated when flows drop below a threshold.
8. River Wye operations
Throughout December, flows at Redbrook were above the regulation threshold. Therefore, regulation releases were not in operation during November.
9. Water abstraction restrictions
As of 31 December 2025, there were 6 water abstraction licence restrictions in place across the Midlands affecting 5 licences in total.
Please refer to the appendices for a full list of water abstraction licence restrictions.
Author: Midlands Hydrology, midlandshydrology@environment-agency.gov.uk
Contact Details: 03708 506 506
Disclaimer: All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.