Research and analysis

North East water situation: December 2025 summary

Updated 14 January 2026

Applies to England

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

The rainfall during December was variable with the first 3 weeks of the month recording high totals, followed by a dry final week. Monthly rainfall totals are classed as normal for all catchments. Monthly mean river flows generally decreased from the previous month and now fall within the normal or above normal ranges. Soils across the area remain fully saturated. Reservoir stocks remain healthy for December with the exception of Derwent reservoir which remains below average for the time of year.

1. Rainfall

Monthly rainfall totals were slightly below the long term average (LTA) though they fell within the normal range for all catchments. Totals ranged from 73% of the LTA in the Tweed catchment to 99% of the LTA in the Seaham area. Analysis of the daily rainfall totals shows that virtually all of the rainfall was recorded in the first 3 weeks of the month and the last 10 days were generally dry. Cumulative totals up to 8 months are now in the normal or higher bandings: a significant improvement from earlier in the year during the period of prolonged dry weather. It is only the 11 month totals where one catchment (Northumberland) remains in the notably low category.

2. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Soil moisture deficits remain similar to last month and all catchments are considered to be fully saturated with less than 10mm of soil moisture deficit.

3. River flows

Monthly mean river flows have seen a decrease this month and now fall within the normal or above normal ranges. Monthly mean flows ranged from 91% of the LTA at Heaton Mill in the Till catchment to 135% of the LTA at Mitford in the Wansbeck catchment. Analysis of daily mean flows shows that flows were notably high or exceptionally high at the start of the month and continued to remain in the higher categories for 2 to 3 weeks. From 20 December onwards flows began to decline with all sites falling within the below normal or lower ranges by the end of the month. Haydon Bridge on the River South Tyne and Heaton Mill on the River Till had both recorded exceptionally low flows by 31 December.

4. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels have remained in the same range at all indicator sites with the exception of Red Lion where levels now fall in the above normal range. West Hall farm is within the notably high range, which is understood to be the result of a reduction in nearby abstraction volumes rather than a climatic response. All other indicator sites fall within the normal range for the time of the year.

5. Reservoir stocks

Changes in reservoir stocks have varied this month. Kielder and the Lune and Balder group have decreased slightly whilst the North Tynedale group, Derwent and Cow Green have increased. The Durham group has remained the same. All reservoirs except Derwent are average or above average for the time of year.

Reservoir or reservoir group	Percentage of current stocks	Percentage of previous month stocks
Kielder	88.4	91.4
North Tynedale group	87.6	80.4
Derwent	61.4	54.8
Durham group	97.9	97.1
Lune and Balder group	96.9	98.5
Cow Green	96.7	86.1

Author: Environment Agency, hydrology.northeast@environment-agency.gov.uk

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.