Research and analysis

North East water situation: March 2026 summary

Updated 14 April 2026

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

March was a typical spring month with monthly rainfall totals and mean river flows falling within the normal ranges across all catchments. Soils across the area remain saturated. Reservoir stocks remain healthy for the time of year. Goundwater levels varied.

2. Rainfall

Monthly rainfall totals were slightly above the long term average (LTA) for the Tyne, Seaham and Tees catchments and slightly below LTA for the Tweed, Northumbria North Sea Tribs and Wear catchments. Totals were classed as normal across all catchments and ranged from 72% of the LTA in the Tweed catchment to 117% of the LTA in the Tyne catchment. Analysis of the daily rainfall totals shows that lower rainfall totals were recorded across the area in the first 11 days. On 12 March a rainfall event impacted the area with higher rainfall totals recorded. Further widespread rainfall was recorded on 24 March. Little rainfall was recorded in the last week of March.

Cumulative 6 month totals were classed as notably high across all catchments with the exception of the Wear and Seaham catchments which fell within the above normal range. Cumulative 12 month totals fell within the normal range for all catchments.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

All catchments remain fully saturated with soil moisture deficits less than 10mm across the whole area.

4. River flows

Monthly mean river flows declined across all indicator sites this month falling within the normal range. Monthly mean flows ranged from 61% of the LTA at Mitford in the River Wansbeck catchment to 113% of the LTA at Rutherford Bridge in the River Greta catchment.

Analysis of daily mean flows shows that flows were in the normal range across all sites at the beginning of March. Daily mean flows increased at all indicator sites following prolonged rainfall on 12 March where exceptionally high daily mean flows were recorded across all sites. Following this period flows decreased steadily. River flows increased again on 24 March following another sustained period of rainfall. Flows decreased towards the end of the month with all indicator sites falling within the normal range except Rothbury and Heaton Mill which fell within the below normal range.

5. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels varied across the area this month. Levels increased at Aycliffe and Red Lion on the Skerne Magnesian Limestone aquifer. Groundwater levels decreased at all other indicator sites across the area. Town Law on the Till Fell Sandstone fell from normal to below normal for the time of year.

6. Reservoir stocks

Kielder reservoir stocks increased this month from 90.3% to 92.6%. Cow Green reservoir remains at 100% capacity. All other reservoir groups in the area recorded decreases this month, the largest decrease was recorded at the North Tynedale group which decreased from 98.1% to 95.4%. All reservoirs remain above average for March.

Reservoir or reservoir group	Percentage of current stocks	Percentage of previous month stocks
Kielder	92.6	90.3
North Tynedale group	95.4	98.1
Derwent	90.7	91.9
Durham group	99.7	100
Lune and Balder group	97.4	98.5
Cow Green	100	100

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.