Research and analysis

North-west England water situation: November 2025 summary

Updated 11 December 2025

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

Rainfall for north-west England during November was classed as exceptionally high, having received 160% of the long-term average (LTA). Notably Cumbria experienced its third wettest November on record since 1871. In response to this, soil moisture deficit (SMD) has continued to remain saturated across Cumbria and Lancashire (CLA), and it has been further reduced across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire (GMC). Mean river flows have generally increased compared to October and were classed as between normal to exceptionally high. The highest river flows were seen in the catchments in Cumbria, and the Upper Mersey. Total reservoir stocks for north-west England has continued to see recovery, and most reservoirs are now at or near its average for this time of the year. 

2. Rainfall

November has continued the trend of what has been a very wet autumn, predominantly characterised by the succession of low pressure systems throughout the month, including the Met Office named Storm Claudia on 14 November, which affected Cumbria and GMC in particular.

November’s rainfall for north-west England as a whole was classed as exceptionally high, at 160% of the LTA. Cumbria observed 178% of the LTA, classed as exceptionally high, and Lancashire 144% of the LTA, classed as notably high. GMC observed 155% of the LTA, classed as notably high. November was also the third wettest on record for Cumbria since 1871 (154 years) at 289mm.

Cumbria received the heaviest rainfall that fell in north-west England during November, with all hydrological areas in Cumbria being classed as exceptionally high. The highest rainfall (in terms of the LTA) was observed in the Esk (Cumbria) hydrological area, at 188% (classed as exceptionally high) which also observed its second wettest November on record at 378mm, 34mm below the record in 2009. The lowest rainfall (in terms of the LTA) was observed in the Ribble hydrological area (classed as above normal). Also, the Derwent, and the Kent hydrological areas observed their third wettest November since 1871, while the Eden, and the Esk (Dumfries) hydrological areas observed their fifth wettest November since 1871.

The 3-month cumulative rainfall period, which coincides with the meteorological autumn (1 September to 30 November), was classed as exceptionally high for every single hydrological area in north-west England. This would explain the good recovery across north-west England from the dry weather seen earlier this year. It is worth noting this was the second wettest metrological autumn for the Derwent hydrological area since 1871; third wettest for the Esk (Cumbria), the Eden, and the Kent hydrological areas; and the fifth wettest for the Esk (Dumfries), the Mersey and Irwell, and the Wyre and Lune hydrological areas since 1871. It was also the third wettest for Cumbria and the fourth wettest for north-west England as a whole.

The 6-month cumulative rainfall period which includes both the meteorological summer (1 June to 31 August) and autumn, shows the impact of the heavy rainfall seen in the last 3 months, with almost all of Cumbria with the exception of the Esk (Dumfries) hydrological area (classed as notably high) being classed as exceptionally high. In general, the further south it is, the drier it was with the Wyre and Lune hydrological area being classed as notably high, and the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area being classed as normal. Similar to the 3-month cumulative period, this was the third wettest 6-month period ending in November since 1871 for the Esk (Cumbria) and the Kent hydrological areas, and the fifth wettest for Cumbria as a whole.

The 12-month cumulative period replicates the spatial variability observed in the 6-month cumulative rainfall totals. The Esk (Cumbria), the Kent, and the Derwent hydrological areas recorded the highest rainfall, and were all classed as notably high. This was followed by the Wyre and Lune hydrological area, which was classed as above normal. All remaining hydrological areas fell within the class of normal.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

In response to the rainfall received throughout November, SMD at the beginning of December across north-west England continued to recover and remained saturated across Cumbria and northern Lancashire. In the Cheshire Rivers Group hydrological area, observed SMD was less than 10mm which was 6 to 25mm wetter than the LTA. Across all other hydrological areas, SMD was at or close to the LTA.

4. River flows

Similar to the spatial pattern in rainfall over November, the highest river flow was found across Cumbria, northern Lancashire, and upland GMC. River flows were highest (in terms of percentage of the LTA) in the Ellen catchment at Bullgill (202% of the LTA, classed as exceptionally high), and lowest in the Glaze Brook catchment at Little Woolden Hall (116% of the LTA, classed as normal).

For the other 23 indicator sites reported:

• 7 sites (all in Cumbria with the exception of the Upper Mersey Catchment at Brinksway) were classed as exceptionally high
• 10 sites were classed as notably high
• 6 sites (all found in central Lancashire or GMC) were classed as above normal

Heavy rainfall recorded towards the first half of the month has resulted in several notable peaks in daily mean flow.

Daily mean flows above Q1 (this is where mean flow has been exceeded only 1% of the gauging record) were observed on 3 to 4 November at:

• Caton gauging station on the River Lune
• Cropple Howe gauging station on the River Esk
• Kirkby Stephen gauging station on the River Eden
• Kirkby gauging station on the River Alt
• Pooley Bridge Upstream gauging station on the River Eamont
• St Michaels gauging station on the River Wyre

And on 14 to 15 November at:

• Ashton Weir gauging station on the River Mersey
• Bollington Mill gauging station on the River Bollin
• Brinksway gauging station on the River Mersey
• Causey Bridges gauging station on Sankey Brook
• Portwood gauging station on the River Tame
• Rudheath gauging station on the River Dane

In addition, daily mean flows above Q0.1 (where the mean flow has been exceeded only 0.1% of the gauging record) were observed on 3 to 5 November at:

• Duddon Hall gauging station on the River Duddon
• Lunes Bridge gauging station on the River Lune
• Newby Bridge gauging station on the River Leven
• Seaton Mill gauging station on the River Derwent
• Sedgwick gauging station on the River Kent

And on 13 November at:

• Sheepmount gauging station on the River Eden

5. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels across north-west England were classed between below normal and exceptionally high at the end of November.

Compared to the end of October, groundwater levels showed the following changes:

• Great Musgrave: increasing from below normal to above normal.
• Furness Abbey: increasing from notably high to exceptionally high.
• Bruntwood Hall: decreasing from notably high to above normal.
• Lea Lane: increasing from above normal to normal.
• Richmond Park: increasing from notably high to exceptionally high.

All other indicator sites remained at the same classification at:

• Brown Bank Lay-By: classed as normal.
• Primrose Hill: classed as normal.
• Priors Heyes: classed as exceptionally high.
• Skirwith: classed as normal.
• Victoria Road: classed as below normal.

Please note that the levels at Priors Heyes remain high compared to the historic levels because the aquifer is recovering from the effects of historically high abstractions.

6. Reservoir stocks

Total reservoir stocks for north-west England increased from 68% at the end of October to 85% at the end of November. This is higher than the average of 84% at this time of the year, and higher than this time last year when total reservoir stock was 78%.

At the end of November, reservoir stock (in terms of percentage) was highest at Lake Vyrnwy at 100% full and lowest (in terms of percentage) at Rivington Reservoir Supply District, which was 71% full.

The combined storage at Haweswater and Thirlmere was at 80%. This is the same as the average of 80% for this time of the year, and higher than this time last year when the stock was 65%.

Reservoirs kept low for maintenance works include parts of the:

• Longridge System (Ribble Reservoir Supply District) – Alston No.1, Alston No.2, Spade Mill No.1, and Spade Mill No.2
• Rivington System (Rivington Reservoir Supply District) – Anglezarke, High Bullough, and Yarrow
• Longdendale System (Longdendale Reservoir Supply District) – Audenshaw No.1, Torside, and Woodhead
• Barnacre Group (Ribble Reservoir Supply District) – Barnacre North, and Barnacre South
• Cowpe System (Pennines West Reservoir Supply District) – Cragg
• Cowm System (Longdendale Reservoir Supply District) – Cowm
• Poaka Beck System (Lakes Reservoir Supply District) – Harlock
• Piethorne Valley System (Pennines East Reservoir Supply District) – Kitcliffe
• Ogden (Barley) System (Ribble Reservoir Supply District) – Ogden (Barley) Lower, and Ogden (Barley) Upper
• Ridegate System (Stockport Reservoir Supply District) - Ridegate

7. Water abstraction restrictions and environmental impacts

No water abstraction restrictions were applied across CLA or GMC during November. Additionally, there has been no reported environmental incidents related to dry weather across north-west England.

Author: Greater Manchester Merseyside and Cheshire Hydrology Team, hydrology.GMMYCH@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 herein.