Research and analysis

North East water situation: May 2025 summary

Updated 12 June 2025

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

May was another dry month with rainfall totals classed as below normal and very little rainfall until the final week of the month. Monthly mean river flows decreased at 6 of the 8 indicator sites and fell within the exceptionally low or notably low ranges. Groundwater levels stayed consistent across the area in comparison to April. All reservoir stocks in the area have decreased this month and are below average for the time of year, with the North Tynedale Group and Durham group recording their lowest stocks on record for the end of May.

2. Rainfall

Monthly rainfall totals were below the long term average (LTA) for all catchments, with totals falling within the below normal range. Overall, the last 5 months have recorded below the LTA rainfall and it has been the driest start to the year (January to May) in the North East since 1929. Monthly totals ranged from 54% of the LTA in the Wear catchment to 73% of the LTA in the Tyne catchment.

Analysis of the daily rainfall shows that only 1mm to 2mm of rainfall was recorded until 23 May, with the majority of the months rain falling in the last week of the month.

The 3-month rainfall totals are in the exceptionally low range for the whole area. The Wear, Tyne and Tees catchments have all recorded their driest 3-month period up to and including May, since records began in 1871. The 12-month rainfall totals show the Seaham, Tees and Northumberland catchments in the notably low range, with the rest of the area exceptionally low. Only duration totals of 17 months and above are in the normal range for all catchments.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) are 41mm to 70mm in the Tyne catchment, which is an increase from 11mm to 40mm in April. SMDs are between 71mm and 100mm across the rest of the area, which is an increase from 41mm to 70mm in April. The exception to this is the Seaham catchment, where SMDs have increased to between 101mm and 130mm. Soils are drier than average for the time of year with a 26mm to 50mm difference from the LTA in every catchment except for the Tyne catchment, which shows a 6mm to 25mm difference from the LTA.

4. River flows

Monthly mean river flows have decreased this month from notably low to exceptionally low at Rothbury and Hartford Bridge. All sites fall within the exceptionally low range with the exception of Haydon Bridge and Middleton in Teesdale, which have increased from the exceptionally low range to the notably low range. Monthly mean flows ranged from just 10% of the LTA at Rutherford Bridge to 58% of the LTA at Middleton in Teesdale where flows are supported by releases from Cow Green reservoir.

For the second month in a row, Witton Park, Rutherford Bridge and Mitford recorded their lowest monthly mean flows since records began in 1972, 1960 and 1968 respectively. Heaton Mill and Rothbury have also recorded their lowest monthly mean flows since records began in 2001 and 1972 respectively.

Analysis of the daily mean flows shows that flows at Heaton Mill were exceptionally low for the entire month. Witton Park, Mitford and Rutherford Bridge recorded exceptionally low flows for most of the month until the last few days where flows increased following rainfall to notably low and normal flows. Haydon Bridge recorded a similar pattern, though reached notably high flows for 2 days before falling slightly into the normal range. Rothbury also recorded exceptionally low flows for most of the month until the last week, where it rose to between notably low and below normal. Flows at Hartford Bridge fluctuated between notably low and exceptionally low, until the last week of the month where there are a couple of days of below normal and normal flows. Middleton in Teesdale recorded below normal flows for most of the month until the last week, where it rose to normal flows, with a brief increase to notably high before falling back to normal. 

5. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels are fairly consistent across the area. Levels in West Hall Farm borehole in the Wear Magnesian Limestone fall within the exceptionally high range. West Hall Farm appears to be subject to longer term recovery following significant reduction of abstraction within the vicinity. The level in Aycliffe NRA2 in the Skerne Magnesian Limestone has not changed significantly since April and falls within the normal range. Royalty Observation is classed as normal in the Fell Sandstone. Red Lion in the Skerne Magnesian Limestone and Town Law in the Fell Sandstone fall within the normal ranges for May.

6. Reservoir stocks

All reservoir stocks decreased across the area this month. The largest decreases were within the Durham Group and Derwent, which recorded a 14.2% and 9.8% decrease in stock respectively. Reservoir stocks across the area are below average. The North Tynedale Group has been below the minimum on record for both April and May. The Durham group dropped below its May minimum during the month, though with the rainfall in the last week it has returned to just above minimum. All reservoir stocks show an increase following the recent rainfall, with the exception of Derwent.

Reservoir or reservoir group	Percentage of current stocks	Percentage of previous month stocks
Kielder	81.0	84.4
North Tynedale group	58.2	65.8
Derwent	72.8	82.6
Durham group	58.4	72.6
Lune and Balder group	72.6	75.7
Cow Green	64.3	75.5

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.