Research and analysis

Yorkshire water situation: April 2025 summary

Updated 14 May 2025

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

This month rainfall totals in Yorkshire were significantly low. Flows declined across all catchments, soils began to dry after many weeks of remaining wet and reservoirs stocks deviated further below the long term average (LTA) and continued to decrease. Groundwater levels decreased in all aquifers. Hands off flow (HoF) restrictions were put in place on abstractions in many river catchments.

2. Rainfall

This month saw a continuation of below long term average rainfall, with catchments experiencing between 13% and 33% of the monthly LTA. It was the third consecutive month of below average rainfall across the whole of Yorkshire. This was the third driest January to April in the Met Office Had-UK rainfall record starting 1871, with only 1887 and 1929 having lower rainfall totals. Rain gauges recorded up to 25 dry days this month, as was the case at Headingley in the Aire catchment and Romanby in the Swale catchment.

The Pennine region saw the lowest totals. The Swale, Ure, Nidd, Wharfe, Aire and Calder catchments were almost completely dry until day 14. There were small amounts of rain between day 14 and day 21. From day 22 onwards, most rain gauges in these catchments received no rain for the remainder of the month. All of these catchments’ monthly rainfall totals were classified as exceptionally low, except for the Calder which had just enough rainfall to be classified as notably low. In the Wharfe, this April was the second driest in over 150 years of record.

The Don and Rother catchments also had notably low amounts of rainfall.

The Esk, Rye, Ouse, Derwent and Hull catchments were also very dry aside from 2 small showers; on days 14 and 15 and on days 21 and 22. Rainfall in these catchments was categorised as notably low, except the Rye which was exceptionally low.

The 12-month cumulative rainfall totals, which were normal last month, are now below normal in most catchments.

3. Soil moisture deficit

After weeks of being consistently wet, soils began to dry out in April. By day 15, soils had normal levels of moisture. They dried further still until by the month’s end some areas were classified as dry, particularly in the south of Yorkshire. Across all catchments, soils were between 26 to 50m drier than the LTA for April.

4. River flows

Flows declined across Yorkshire over the course of April. Monthly mean flows were below average in all catchments and ranged from 19% to 35% of the LTA on most rivers, generally classified as notably or exceptionally low. They were slightly higher on the Derwent, Aire, Rye and chalk-fed West Beck at 42%, 46%, 52 and 62% of the LTA respectively.

Many sites experienced the lowest April monthly mean flows on record including Addingham and Tadcaster on the Wharfe, Crakehill Topcliffe on the Swale, Doncaster on the Don, Elland on the Calder, Kilgram Bridge on the Ure and Skelton on the Ouse.

In the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe, flows declined steeply in the first week and then more gradually for the rest of the month, with all except the Nidd ending the month with exceptionally low flows.

The flows in the Aire and Calder remained exceptionally low for most of the month.

In the Esk at Briggswath, flows fluctuated between the normal April flow range and below normal but also declined overall.

Flows in the Rye and Derwent, and the chalk-fed West Beck were below normal and notably low respectively for most of the month, declining steadily throughout. By the month’s end they had been reduced to exceptionally low and notably low flows.

In the Don and Rother flows were very slightly influenced by the small amount of rainfall, they increased around day 16 and then again around day 21. They both remained well below normal throughout.

5. Groundwater levels       

5.1 Magnesian Limestone

The groundwater level within the Magnesian Limestone at Brick House Farm decreased this month and was above normal for the time of year.

5.2 Millstone Grit

There was no update for Hill Top Farm for April.

5.3 Sherwood Sandstone

The groundwater level in the Sherwood Sandstone decreased and remained above normal at Great Ouseburn for the time of year, and groundwater levels also decreased at Riccall Approach Farm, and remained normal for the time of year.

5.4 Corallian Limestone

The groundwater level decreased within the Corallian Limestone at Sproxton and remained below normal for the time of year.

5.5 Chalk

The groundwater level decreased at Wetwang (northern Yorkshire Wolds chalk) and remained below normal for the time of year. The level at Dalton Estate (central Yorkshire Wolds chalk) also decreased and remained normal for the time of year.

6. Reservoir stocks

Reservoir stocks continued to decline at an average rate of around 3% per week. At the end of April, stocks were at 76.3%, 13.5% less than the LTA. This is the lowest reservoir stocks have been in April since 1996.

7. Environmental impact

In late April, there were 17 abstraction licences with a HoF condition in force, and another 47 abstraction licence holders had been given advance warning that flows were low. At the time of reporting at the end of April, the number of HoFs in in place continues to change in response to the low flow conditions.

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.

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