North East water situation: October 2025 summary
Updated 12 November 2025
Applies to England
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1. Summary
The rainfall totals for October were below average in all catchments. Monthly mean river flows decreased at all indicator sites compared to September and now fall within the below normal and normal ranges. Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) are slowly improving following the prolonged dry weather over the summer. Reservoir stocks have had a mixed response this month with most increasing whilst others continue to decline.
2. Rainfall
Monthly rainfall totals were below the long term average (LTA) for all catchments and ranged from 71% of the LTA in the Wear catchment to 90% of the LTA in the Northumbria North Sea Tribs Catchment. Analysis of the daily rainfall totals shows that for all catchments rainfall was recorded in the first week of October, and the last 2 weeks of October with a dry spell in between. The rainfall totals this month are in the normal range for all catchments. Longer term rainfall deficits remain, with the cumulative 12-month rainfall totals being classed as exceptionally low across all catchments.
3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge
SMDs have decreased in the Tyne, Northumbria North Sea Tribs, and Tweed catchments. Deficits of 41 to 70mm remain in the Seaham area whilst the Wear and Tees catchments have deficits of 11 to 41mm. The Wear, Tyne and Seaham area catchments are now 6 to 25% wetter than average for the time of year. Soils across the area are slowly saturating following the prolonged dry weather over the spring and summer.
4. River flows
Monthly mean river flows have decreased this month from those in September at all indicator sites and fall within the below normal and normal ranges. Monthly mean flows ranged from just 18% of the LTA at Hartford Bridge on the River Blyth to 78% of the LTA at Middleton in Teesdale on the River Tees. Analysis of daily mean flows shows that flows were elevated at the start of the month in the normal, above normal and notably high ranges. On 3 October flows were in the exceptionally high range at Middleton in Teesdale on the River Tees and Rutherford Bridge on the River Greta. Following this, flows generally remained in the below normal, notably low and exceptionally low ranges until 20 October when flows elevated again before returning to below normal levels at Hartford Bridge, Haydon Bridge, Heaton Mill.
5. Groundwater levels
Groundwater levels have remained in the same range at all indicator sites with the exception of Town Law on the Till Fell Sandstone, which has increased from the below normal to normal range. Town Law is located within the more confined area of the aquifers which typically records a delayed response of 3 to 6 months to the observed weather. Royalty Observation, Red Lion and Aycliffe are classed as normal for the time of year. West Hall Farm remains within the notably high range. This seems to be the result of a reduction in nearby abstraction volumes rather than a climatic response.
6. Reservoir stocks
Reservoir stocks have decreased this month at Kielder and Derwent, although they have increased elsewhere. The highest increase was in the Durham group which increased by over 12% from 67.8% to 80.2% full. Reservoirs remain below overage for the time of year, except for the Durham and Lune and Balder groups which are above the average for October.
| Reservoir or reservoir group | Percentage of current stocks | Percentage of previous month stocks |
|---|---|---|
| Kielder | 79.4 | 84.8 |
| North Tynedale group | 58.1 | 53.2 |
| Derwent | 39.7 | 44.4 |
| Durham group | 80.2 | 67.8 |
| Lune and Balder group | 90.2 | 79.5 |
| Cow Green | 65.5 | 61.7 |
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.