Rainfall

The one- and three-month outlooks for river flows are for normal to above normal flows in the English lowlands and flows within the normal range elsewhere.  The outlooks for groundwater levels over both the one- and three-month timeframes are for above normal levels in southern Scotland, north-east England and central southern England, with normal to above normal levels most likely elsewhere.

Read the full Outlook.

With above average rainfall in the south-east in May after a prolonged period of below average rainfall, the outlook is for normal to above normal river flows across the UK for June. However, this period is expected to be short-lived, and river flows over June-July-August as a whole are likely to return to being normal to below normal.  Groundwater levels in the south-east of England are likely to be below normal to notably low over the next one to three months, whilst levels in southern Scotland are likely to be above normal or higher over this period.

The outlook for April is for river flows and groundwater levels in the south east of England to be normal to below normal, while in the rest of the UK normal river flows and groundwater levels are most likely.

Over the next three months there is the possibility of very low groundwater levels occurring in parts of south-east England (i.e. the Chalk of Kent and Sussex, and possibly the Chilterns). Elsewhere in the UK over this time scale, normal river flows and groundwater levels are most probable.

Following an exceptionally dry October across the majority of the UK, the outlook for November is for river flows to be below normal to normal across the UK, with below normal flows more likely in the south and east. Below normal to normal flows are likely to persist across the south and east of the UK over the next three to six months. Groundwater levels are expected to be within the normal range, except in areas of the southern Chalk which are likely to be below normal over the next three months.