Research and analysis

North East water situation: November 2024 summary

Updated 13 December 2024

Applies to England

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

1. Summary

November was a very dry month with only one day of significant rainfall recorded. Monthly rainfall totals were classed as below average for November. Monthly mean river flows have decreased this month at all indicator sites and fall within the notably low, below normal and normal ranges. Groundwater levels vary across the area and generally remain above normal due to the high rainfall recorded in previous months. Soil moisture deficit (SMD) data still shows wet soils across the area. All reservoirs in the area have seen a decrease in stocks this month but remain healthy for the time of year.

2. Rainfall

Monthly rainfall totals were classed as below the long term average (LTA) for all catchments across the area. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 42% of the LTA in the Seaham catchment to 47% of the LTA in the Northumbria North Sea Tribs catchment.

Analysis of the daily rainfall shows a very dry first 3 weeks of November with almost no rainfall recorded across the area. Significant rainfall was recorded on 23 November with two-thirds of the month’s total recorded on that one day at some rain gauges. The final week of November was also dry with little rainfall recorded. 

Cumulative 3-month rainfall totals are all in the normal range.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Soils are classed as wet with less than 10mm soil moisture deficit across the area.

4. River flows

Monthly mean river flows have decreased this month at all indicator sites and fall within the notably low, below normal or normal ranges. Monthly mean flows ranged from 35% of the LTA at Hartford Bridge on the River Blyth to 57% of the LTA at Rutherford Bridge on the River Greta.

Analysis of the daily mean flows shows that flows were in the notably high or above normal ranges at the start of the month. Daily mean flows decreased at all indicator sites over the first 3 weeks of November following a period of very little rainfall. Daily mean flows increased on 23 November following a 24-hour period of intense rainfall. In the final week of November flows decreased across all indicator sites following a dry period and fell within the normal, below normal or notably low ranges by the end of the month.

5. Groundwater levels   

Groundwater levels vary across the area. Levels in West Hall Farm borehole in the Wear Magnesian Limestone remain in the exceptionally high range. Aycliffe NRA2 in the Skerne Magnesian Limestone has decreased slightly and now falls within the notably high range. Royalty Observation is classed as above normal in the Fell Sandstone. Red Lion in the Skerne Magnesian Limestone and Town Law in the Fell Sandstone fall within the normal ranges for November.

6. Reservoir stocks

All reservoirs in the area have seen a decrease in stocks this month, with the exception of Kielder which recorded a small increase. Stocks in the Durham group, Lune and Balder Group and Cow Green reservoir ended the month at above 90% full. Overall, reservoir stocks remain healthy for the time of year.  

Reservoir or reservoir group	Percentage of current stocks	Percentage of previous month stocks
Kielder	81.9	81.5
North Tynedale group	76.6	80.1
Derwent	85.9	89.2
Durham group	90.1	92.1
Lune and Balder group	97.4	98.5
Cow Green	97.6	100

Author: GWHCL North East, [email protected]

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.