Yorkshire water situation: July 2025 summary
Updated 12 August 2025
Applies to England
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1. Summary
This month Yorkshire experienced average amounts of rainfall. Soils were very dry to begin with and ended the month still dry but slightly less so. Daily mean river flows were mostly normal in the Pennines and notably low in the east of Yorkshire. Groundwater levels decreased in most aquifers and reservoir stocks continued to decline.
2. Rainfall
The monthly rainfall for July was within normal range across the whole of Yorkshire, catchments experienced between 85% and 115% of the monthly long-term average (LTA). Monthly rainfall totals at our key indicator sites ranged from 28.4mm at Wakefield in the Calder catchment to 132.2mm at Tow Hill in the Ure catchment.
It was the fourth driest February to July in the Met Office Had-UK rainfall record starting in 1871.
The month was characterised by short periods of rainfall lasting roughly 2 days, interspersed by days with little or no rainfall. There were 3 main periods of rainfall across Yorkshire. The first period between days 4 to 5 was concentrated in the Ure, Nidd and Wharfe catchments. The second and third periods on day 15 and on days 19 to 21 were Yorkshire-wide. From day 22, very little rain fell across the region.
Despite July’s normal rainfall, the 6-month cumulative rainfall totals were classified as exceptionally low in all catchments.
3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge
During July the soil moisture ranged between very dry and dry. For the first 2 weeks of the month soils were dry on the Pennine ridge and very dry across the rest of Yorkshire. By the third week only the soils in the Hull and Derwent catchments were still classified as very dry. By the final week of the month all soils in Yorkshire were classified as dry
4. River flows
Catchment response in July divided between the Derwent, Esk and Hull to the east, the Pennine catchments of south and west Yorkshire, and those of the Yorkshire Dales.
In the Pennine catchments of the Yorkshire Dales, monthly mean flows in the Ure were above normal at 129% of the LTA. This was mainly due to brief increases in flow between days 4 to 6 and days 14 to 15, in response to short duration rainfall. The Swale, Nidd, Wharfe, Aire and Ouse had normal monthly mean flows, ranging from 50% of the LTA in the Aire to 100% of the LTA in the Wharfe in response to rainfall. In the Don and Calder monthly mean flows were below normal and in the Rother were notably low. In the Derwent and Hull catchments monthly mean flows were exceptionally low.
Daily mean flows reflected the rainfall pattern. Flows increased in the Pennine catchments between days 4 and 6 to above normal and to exceptionally high at some locations. However, the Derwent and West Beck remained notably or exceptionally low throughout this period.
Between days 18 and 20 the more widespread rainfall caused above normal flows in all but the West Beck with some catchments reaching notably high flows.
5. Groundwater levels
5.1 Magnesian Limestone
The groundwater level within the Magnesian Limestone at Brick House Farm decreased and remained above normal for the time of year.
5.2 Millstone Grit
The groundwater level within the Millstone Grit at Hill Top Farm decreased and was below normal for the time year. This observation borehole is used for water abstraction by means of a pump which may affect the groundwater level recorded here.
5.3 Sherwood Sandstone
The groundwater level within the Sherwood Sandstone at Great Ouseburn decreased but was above normal for the time of year. The groundwater level increased at Riccall Approach Farm and became normal for the time of year.
5.4 Corallian Limestone
The groundwater level within the Corallian Limestone at Sproxton decreased slightly but was normal for the time of year.
5.5 Chalk
The groundwater level at Wetwang decreased and remained notably low for the time of year. The groundwater level also decreased at Dalton Estate Well and became notably low for the time of year.
5.6 Reservoir stocks
Reservoir stocks decreased by 8.4% across the month of July and were 47% full at the end of the month. In the final week of July reservoir stocks were 28% lower than the LTA for the time of year.
5.7 Environmental impact
In late July, there were 85 abstraction licences with a Hands Off Flow condition in force. The number of HOFs in place continues to change in response to the low flow conditions.
Author: Environment Agency, hydrology.northeast@environment-agency.gov.uk
Contact details: 020 847 48174
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.