After a soaking November-149% of the long‑term average-England’s drought picture is shifting, with the Midlands and much of the North moving into recovery. The National Drought Group said today the downpours have lifted rivers and reservoirs, though the scars from a parched spring and record summer remain.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Helen Wakeham, the Environment Agency’s director of water and chair of the National Drought Group. She urged homes and firms to keep using water carefully while the environment heals, and pressed water companies to repair bursts quickly and stick to drought plans through winter.

The rain wasn’t even. The East Midlands recorded 218% of its long‑term average in November-the wettest since 1871-while the West Midlands had 185%, the wettest since 1970. After 21 weeks in drought, both regions have now moved to recovery, according to the Environment Agency.

Closer to home, Yorkshire-placed in drought in June-is showing strong improvement and officials are expected to decide on a status change this week. The North West, first to declare in May, has moved beyond recovery and is back to normal, while the North East has stepped up from ‘prolonged dry’ to recovery. Parts of Sussex served by South East Water remain in drought, underlining the uneven national picture.

Across England, public water supply reservoirs now sit at 79.8% full, just shy of the 81.9% seasonal norm. That’s a lift, but drought only ends when rivers, groundwater and reservoirs are back to normal for the time of year, the Agency said.

Recovery can be fragile. After months of deficit, intense rain can bring local flooding even as soils and aquifers are still catching up. Officials warned that flooding and drought risks can sit side by side, so regional statuses will stay under review in the coming weeks.

To strengthen planning, the Environment Agency is working with The Alan Turing Institute on improved river‑flow modelling to pinpoint how much water is in the system and spot early signs of shortage. Combining modelling with customer‑use data is helping to judge what can be taken safely and what new infrastructure might be needed.

Environment Agency chief scientist Dr Robert Bradburne said closer joint work with water companies on advanced tools-such as AI for leak detection-would mean “better forecasts and more decisive, well‑evidenced responses”. Attendees agreed to pool research, innovation and data to toughen drought resilience.

Farmers across the Midlands and North are being urged to check that abstraction licences fit next season’s needs and to apply for changes early if required. The National Drought Group recommends capturing winter rain now, looking at extra on‑farm storage and, where possible, planning to share water with neighbours. The NFU also has guidance on taking floodwater during flood events.

Households and workplaces have a part to play. Around 19% of water is still lost to leaks and companies are under pressure to keep driving that down en route to halving losses by 2050. Simple steps this winter help: fit low‑flow shower heads or dual‑flush devices, fix leaky loos, avoid pre‑rinsing dishes, fill washing machines properly and install a garden water butt.

Water Minister Emma Hardy welcomed the improving picture but warned against complacency with climate change set to bring more droughts and floods. She called on companies to build resilience over winter to prepare for a potentially dry 2026, and pointed to longer‑term plans including nine new reservoirs and new pipes to reduce leakage. Government proposals to tighten water‑efficiency standards in new buildings are out for consultation until 16 December 2025, alongside moves to mandate efficiency labels for white goods.

Context matters for the North. Spring 2025 was the driest in 132 years, and the Met Office recorded four heatwaves, confirming the hottest summer since records began in 1884. Met Office lead Sarah Davies said one wet season does not ‘correct’ two dry ones; autumn 2025 was far wetter than spring and summer combined, but sustained winter rain is still needed in some areas. The balance of a dry or wet winter is close to normal, with regional differences likely.