Research and analysis

North East water situation: September 2025 summary

Updated 14 October 2025

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

September was the wettest month for the North East area since December 2023 with above average rainfall recorded in all catchments. Monthly mean river flows increased at all indicator sites and now fall within the normal, above normal or notably high ranges. Groundwater levels fall within the below normal, normal or notably high ranges. Soil moisture deficits (SMD) across the area have seen a substantial decrease and soils are slowly saturating following the prolonged dry weather over the summer. The change in reservoir stocks also reflects the wet month with all reservoirs recording an increase in stocks, with the exception of Derwent reservoir.

2. Rainfall

Monthly rainfall totals were above the long term average (LTA) for all catchments and ranged from 133% of the LTA in the Seaham catchment to 173% of the LTA in the Tyne catchment.

Analysis of the daily rainfall totals shows little rainfall was recorded in the first week of September. Significant rainfall totals were recorded across the area from 10 to 21 September: the largest totals since February 2025. From 19 to 21 September notable totals were recorded with many parts of the area receiving between 60% to 80% of the months LTA in a 48-hour period. During this event up to 60mm was recorded in the Coquet, Wansbeck and Blyth catchments. The final week of September was much drier with small, infrequent showers.

The cumulative 3-month rainfall totals are in the normal range for all catchments except the Seaham area which is classed as below normal. Longer term rainfall deficits remain, with the cumulative 12-month rainfall totals classed as notably low or exceptionally low. It is the 4th driest 12 months ending in September for the Seaham catchment, 7th driest for the Wear catchment and 8th driest for the Tees catchment and North East area as a whole.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) have decreased across the whole area since August. A north-south divide is forming with Northumberland and the Till drier than the southern catchments (Tyne, Wear and Tees). Deficits in the Tweed, Northumbria North Sea Tribs and Seaham catchments have decreased to the 41mm to 70mm range whilst those in the Tyne, Wear and Tees catchments have decreased to between 11mm to 40mm. 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 increased this month at all indicator sites and fall within the normal, above normal or notably high ranges. Monthly mean flows ranged from 23% of the LTA at Hartford Bridge on the River Blyth to 181% of the LTA at Haydon Bridge on the River South Tyne.

Analysis of the daily mean flows shows that flows were in the exceptionally low and notably low ranges at the start of the month following a very dry August. They remained relatively low for the first week of September then increased rapidly from 10 September following a period of prolonged heavy rainfall.

From 10 September to 22 September all indicator sites recorded exceptionally high flows, with the exception of Hartford Bridge and Heaton Mill where daily mean flow flows peaked in the above normal and notably high ranges. Daily mean flows peaked on 20 September following a very intense 48 hours of rainfall with the highest flows being recorded in the area since February 2025. Daily mean flows receded following this rainfall event and fell within the normal or below normal ranges by the end of the month.

5. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels have increased across all indicator sites following the prolonged rainfall with the exception of Town Law on the Till Fell Sandstone which has decreased from normal to below normal. 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

All reservoir stocks in the area have increased this month with the exception of Derwent reservoir which has recorded a decrease from 47.1% to 44.4%. Increases have ranged from 20.2% in the Durham group to 3.9% at Kielder. Reservoir stocks across the area remain below average for the time of year at Kielder, North Tynedale group, Derwent and Cow Green. Durham and the Lune and Balder group reservoir stocks are now slightly above average for September.

Reservoir or reservoir group	Percentage of current stocks	Percentage of previous month stocks
Kielder	84.8	80.9
North Tynedale group	53.2	45.3
Derwent	44.4	47.1
Durham group	67.8	47.6
Lune and Balder group	79.5	60.7
Cow Green	61.7	50.7

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.