Wessex water situation: July 2026 summary
Updated 12 August 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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1. Summary
July 2026 was a continuation of the dry weather from mid-June with virtually no rainfall. An average of 2mm of rain fell across Wessex, 4% of the long term average (LTA). This was the driest July since records began in 1871 and the driest month since February 1932. Despite this, Wessex still received 66% of the LTA over the past 3 months and 110% of the LTA over the past 12 months. Soil moisture deficit (SMD) continued to rise through July in response to the very low rainfall. At the end of the month, SMD was within 1mm of the historic maximum for this time of year. River flows continued to fall in July. Monthly mean flows were predominantly below normal to notably low. Flows in the south of Wessex were higher relative to the LTA than those in the north due to supporting base flow from the Wessex Basin Chalk. Groundwater levels also fell in July. At the end of the month, sites monitoring the Wessex Basin Chalk were recording below normal to notably low levels while most sites on other geologies were recording normal to below normal levels. At the end of July, reservoir storage for Wessex Water and Bristol Water were 58% and 64% capacity respectively.
2. Rainfall
An average of 2mm of rain fell across Wessex in July, 4% of the LTA. This was the driest July since records began in 1871. July 2026 was also the fourth driest of any calendar month since records began in 1871 and the driest since February 1932. Rainfall was slightly higher in the north and west of Wessex but no catchment received even 10% of the LTA. The Axe hydrological area received the most rain in Wessex with 7mm (9% of the LTA). In all catchments of Wessex, rainfall in July was exceptionally low.
Despite an exceptionally dry July, the last 3-month period (May to July) was only the 26th driest on record with 66% of the LTA. Over the last 3 months, rainfall was below normal to notably low across most of Wessex with only the Yeo and Kenn, and Axe hydrological areas recording normal rainfall. Over the past 6 months, all hydrological areas recorded normal or below normal rainfall. Over the past 12 months, Wessex has still received 110% of the LTA. Most hydrological areas in the north recorded above normal rainfall while the majority in the south recorded notably high rainfall.
3. Soil moisture
SMD continued to rise throughout July in response to the very low rainfall. At the end of July, SMD was slightly higher than this time last year and within 1mm of the historic maximum for the time of year. Most hydrological areas in the north of Wessex recorded SMD levels between 101 and 130mm at the end of July while most areas to the south recorded levels between 131 and 160mm. In most areas, SMD was 26 to 50mm greater than the LTA at the end of the month. However, in several areas in the south, SMD was between 51 to 75mm greater than the LTA at the end of July.
4. River flows
Daily mean river flows mostly fell through July as a result of the minimal rainfall. However, for many sites the drop in flows was relatively small. Most flow monitoring sites in Wessex reported either below normal or notably low monthly mean flows in July. Three monitoring sites recorded exceptionally low monthly mean flows. These were the Tone at Bishops Hull, the Bristol Frome at Frenchay and the Dorset Stour at Hammoon. Monthly mean flows in the south of Wessex tended to be a higher percentage of the LTA as flows were supported by base flow supplied by the Wessex Basin Chalk. Despite this, all sites monitoring flows within the Hampshire Avon catchment which is supported by the aquifer, reported notably low monthly mean flows.
5. Groundwater levels
Groundwater levels continued to fall across all of Wessex in July as a result of the minimal rainfall. At the end of July, all monitoring sites on the Wessex Basin Chalk reported below normal or notably low levels. Most sites monitoring other geologies recorded normal or below normal levels at the end of July. The only exception was Chipley (monitoring the Otter Sandstone) which recorded exceptionally low levels. The only sites to record normal levels at the end of July in Wessex were Didmarton (monitoring the Inferior Oolite) and Overcompton (monitoring the Bridport Sand).
6. Reservoir storage
Reservoir storage has continued to fall through July for both Bristol Water and Wessex Water. Wessex Water ended the month at approximately 58% capacity which is similar to storage this time last year and in 1995. Bristol Water ended July at approximately 64% capacity which higher than in 2025 and just below storage in 1995.
Author: Wessex Hydrology, hydrology.wessex@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.