Research and analysis

Water situation: June 2025 summary

Updated 10 July 2025

Applies to England

June was another dry month for most, with 80% of the long term average (LTA) rainfall being received across England as a whole. It’s the driest start to the year across England since 1976. Soil moisture deficits (SMD) continued to increase with soils considerably drier than would be expected across most of England. Monthly mean river flows decreased at three-quarters sites we report on, with most sites classed as below normal or lower for the time of year. Groundwater levels have continued their seasonal decline and half were classed as normal at the end of June. Reservoir stocks decreased at nearly three-quarters of sites during June, with England as whole ending the month with 75% storage.

1. Rainfall

During June, England received 51.9mm of rainfall which represents 80% of the 1991 to 2020 LTA for the time of year. More than four-fifths of hydrological areas received below average rainfall during June. The wettest hydrological area as a percentage of LTA was the Kent catchment in north-west England, which received 235% of LTA rainfall (242mm). The driest hydrological area as a percentage of LTA was the Lower Trent which received 20mm of rainfall which is 31% of the LTA for the time of year.

Rainfall totals in June were classed as normal or below normal lower for most hydrological areas. More than half of hydrological areas (55% of the total) were classed as normal for the time of year and almost a third (32%) of hydrological areas, mainly in east, central and south-east England were classed as below normal. The Soar catchment in central England was the only hydrological area to be classed as notably low for the time of year. Six catchments, all in north-west England recorded exceptionally high rainfall and a further 12 hydrological areas, predominantly in north-west and south-west England were classed notably high or above normal for the time of year.

The 3-month cumulative totals were classed as notably or exceptionally low in more than three-quarters of hydrological areas. Four hydrological areas, 2 in north-east and 2 in central England, had their driest April to June period since records began in 1871. Rainfall in 14 hydrological areas, in north-west and south-west England were above normal or higher for the time of year. With the exception of 5 hydrological areas in the south-west of England all the 6-month cumulative totals were classed as normal or lower, with the majority classified as below normal. The 12-month cumulative totals were classed as normal in nearly two-thirds of hydrological areas. Rainfall in more than a quarter of hydrological areas were classed as below normal or lower with most of north-east England classed as notably low. Sixteen hydrological areas were classed as above normal for the period.

At a regional scale, June rainfall was classed as notably high in north-west England, below normal in east, central and south-east England and normal in north-east, south-west and England as a whole. It was the fifth consecutive month of below average rainfall in east, central England and the sixth in north-east England. The north-east and central England had the driest 4-month periods (March to June) since records began in 1871. For England as a whole, it was the fifth consecutive month of below average rainfall, it was the driest March to June period since 1893 and the driest start to the year since 1976.

2. Soil moisture deficit

By the end of June, soil moistures deficits continued to increase across most of England, except in north-west England where soils were slightly wetter following recent rainfall. Soils were driest across south-east parts of south-west and east England.

Soils were drier than would be expected across almost all of England at the end of June, with the only exceptions being in north-west England were rainfall totals were highest in June. Across central, east, north-east and south-east England, soils remain near maximum deficits and are much drier than would be expected for the time of year.

3. River flows

Monthly mean river flows decreased at three-quarters of our indicator sites in June, with most sites being classed as below normal or lower for the time of year. Monthly mean flows at 9 sites (17%), chiefly across north-west England were classed as above normal or higher for June. Thirty-two indicator sites were classed as below normal or lower for the time of year. Sixteen sites (30%) were classed as below normal, 9 sites (17%) were classed as notably low and 7 sites (13%) were classed as exceptionally low, including 4 in north-east England. Flows at nearly a quarter of indicator sites were classed as normal for the time of year.

Three sites, recorded their lowest June monthly mean flow on record (record start given in brackets), all of which were in north-east England:

• River Till at Heaton Mill (2001)
• River Wear at Witton Park (1972)
• River Derwent at Buttercrambe (1973)

With regards to the regional index sites, the Great Stour at Horton in south-east England, the Bedford Ouse at Offord in east England and naturalised monthly mean flows on the River Thames at Kingston all remain classed as below normal for the time of year. The River Dove at Marston-on-Dove in central England was exceptionally low for the fourth month in a row. In contrast, only Haydon Bridge on the South Tyne in north-east England, and the River Lune at Caton in north-west England saw an increase in monthly mean river flows compared to May. The South Tyne was classed as above normal and the River Lune was classed exceptionally high for the time of year. 

4. Groundwater levels   

At the end of June, all our indicator sites recorded a decrease in groundwater levels as aquifers continued their seasonal recessions. Half of the sites were classed as normal for the time of year. Six sites were classed as below normal or notably low, all of which were in chalk aquifers and one site was classed as exceptionally low. Six sites all in sandstone aquifers were classed above normal or higher.

Groundwater levels at all major aquifer index sites had decreased at the end of June. Jackaments Bottom in the Burford Jurassic Limestone of south-east England was classed as exceptionally low for the time of year for the third month in a row. Weir Farm in the Bridgnorth Sandstone in central England and Stonor Park in the South West Chiltern Chalk of south-east England were classed notably high. Skirwith in the Carlisle Basin Sandstone of north-west England was classed as normal for the time of year as were the chalk aquifers in south-east and east England, at Redlands Hall (Cam and Ely Ouse Chalk) and Little Bucket (East Kent Stour Chalk) respectively. Groundwater levels in the Chichester Chalk aquifer at Chilgrove were below normal and in north-east England at Dalton Estate Well (Hull and East Riding Chalk) levels also remain below normal for the time of year. 

5. Reservoir storage

At the end of June, reservoir stocks decreased at nearly three-quarters of the reservoirs and reservoir groups we report on. Six reservoirs or reservoir groups saw decreases of 10% or more, including:

• Blithfield in central England (fell by 13%)
• Ardingley in south-east England (fell by 14%)
• Chew Valley in south-west England (fell by 15%)

In contrast, Haweswater and Thirlmere reservoir in north-west England recorded a 10% increase in stocks by the end of June. More than three-quarters of reservoirs were classed as below normal or lower for the time of year with 11 sites across England classed as notably low. Nine reservoirs were classed as below normal for the time of year, and the following 4 remain exceptionally low:

• Yorkshire Supply group in north-east England
• Derwent Valley and Blithfield in central England
• Blagdon in south-west England

The remaining 7 reservoirs were classed as normal or above normal for the time of year.

Haweswater and Thirlmere is classed as notably low for the time of year having been previously classed as exceptionally low for the time of year at the end of May. The Dee system in Wales which supplies north-west England has been impacted by drawdown for safety works and low inflows, leaving it notably low for the time of year.

The south-east has the highest regional stocks at 87%, while the north-west has the lowest with 66%. All regions are below average for the time of year and storage for England as a whole was 75% at the end of June, as overall stocks dropped by 1% since the end of May.

6. Forward look

July began with wetter weather for many areas, with widespread rain across much of England, except in the south-west on July 6. The middle of July is expected to be settled with very warm weather across England, although there is a chance of thunderstorms. Warm conditions are likely to persist for longest in southern and eastern areas. Changeable conditions are expected moving towards the end of July, with temperatures remaining above average for many. At the end of July unsettled weather may develop, but this remains uncertain.

For the 3-month period July to September, there is a higher than normal chance of the period being hot, with an increased chance of heatwaves and other heat related impacts. The chance of the period being wet or dry are around normal, as are the chances of it being windier than average, with periods of unsettled weather still a possibility. The signals for weather during the period are relatively weak, but this is expected at this time of year.

7. Projections for river flows at key sites

By the end of September 2025, river flows have the greatest chance of being below normal or lower across most of England. South-east and south-west England are the exception as normal flows are most likely. By the end of March 2026, river flows have the greatest chance of being below normal or lower in east and central England. In south-west England normal river flows are most likely, while the rest of the country is likely to see normal or lower river flows.

8. Projections for groundwater levels in key aquifers

By September 2025, groundwater levels have the greatest chance of being normal or lower across England. By March 2026, groundwater levels have the greatest chance of being below normal or lower in east, central and north-east England. Across the rest of England groundwater levels are most likely to be normal or higher.

Author: National Water Resources Hydrology Team, nationalhydrology@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.