Back to Winter water situation report 2026

Supporting information

This section goes into more detail on the data behind the report. SEPA gathers rainfall and river flow data from hundreds of sites across Scotland. We have a dedicated team of staff who do this work. We also monitor groundwater and loch levels and use soil moisture data from the Met Office. We compare the current conditions against the long-term values to see how dry (or wet) it has been.

Rainfall and river flows

3 months (winter)

The maps below show SEPA’s monitored rainfall (left) and river flow (right) from each monitoring station relative to the long-term average, for this time of year, over the last 3 months (winter).

Much of northern Scotland has experienced below average rainfall, generally ranging from quite dry (yellow) to very dry (dark orange). This is reflected in the river flow conditions, where flows have mostly been low (light orange) to very low (dark orange) throughout the winter period. Orkney and Shetland, however, have generally had normal rainfall and river flows. In southern Scotland, rainfall has been more mixed, with normal (green) to wet (light blue) conditions in the far south, but quite dry (yellow) to dry (light orange) conditions across central Scotland. Meanwhile, much of the east, particularly the northeast, has experienced very wet conditions (dark blue). This pattern is mirrored in river flows for these areas, with very high flows (dark blue) in the east, normal to high flows in the far south, and low to very low flows in central Scotland.

The map shows across much of northern Scotland has experienced below average rainfall, generally ranging from quite dry (yellow) to very dry (dark orange). In southern Scotland, normal (green) to wet (light blue) conditions in the far south, but quite dry (yellow) to dry (light orange) conditions across central Scotland. The northeast, has experienced very wet conditions (dark blue).

Map of Scotland showing rainfall from each monitoring station, relative to the long-term average, for this time of year over the last 3 months.

Northern Scotland, river flows have mostly been low (light orange) to very low (dark orange) throughout the winter period. The river flows reflect rainfall with very high flows (dark blue) in the east, normal to high flows in the far south, and low to very low flows in central Scotland.

Map of Scotland showing river flows from each monitoring station, relative to the long-term average, for this time of year over the last 3 months.

6 months (autumn and winter)

The maps below show SEPA’s monitored rainfall (left) and river flow (right) from each monitoring station, relative to the long term average for this time of year, over the last six months (autumn and winter combined).

Across the east of Scotland, rainfall has generally ranged from wet (light blue) to very wet (dark blue), which is reflected in the high (light blue) to very high (dark blue) river flows. Meanwhile, much of the north of Scotland has experienced below average rainfall, generally ranging from quite dry (yellow) to very dry (dark orange). This pattern is mirrored in the river flow conditions, which have mostly been quite low (yellow) to extremely low (red). In contrast, the far north, Orkney and Shetland have generally seen more normal rainfall and corresponding normal river flows. In southern Scotland, rainfall has been more mixed over the autumn and winter period, generally ranging from dry (light orange) to normal (green), with areas of very wet conditions (dark blue) in the far south. River flows follow a similar pattern, with quite low (yellow) to very low flows across much of central Scotland, and normal (green) to very high flows (dark blue) in the far south.

Across the east of Scotland, rainfall has generally ranged from wet (light blue) to very wet (dark blue). Much of the north of Scotland has experienced below average rainfall, generally ranging from quite dry (yellow) to very dry (dark orange). In southern Scotland rainfall ranging from dry (light orange) to normal (green), with areas of very wet conditions (dark blue) in the far south.

Map of Scotland showing rainfall from each monitoring station, relative to the long-term average, for this time of year over the last 6 months.

Northern Scotland, river flows have mostly been low (light orange) to very low (dark orange) throughout the autumn and winter period. The river flows reflect rainfall with high (light blue) to very high flows (dark blue) in the east, quite low (yellow) to very low flows across much of central Scotland, and normal (green) to very high flows (dark blue) in the far south.

Map of Scotland showing river flows from each monitoring station, relative to the long-term average, for this time of year over the last 6 months.

Natural water storage

In each river catchment there is some degree of natural water storage, which can maintain river flows even when it is not raining. This natural water storage is mainly held in lochs and groundwater. When storage has been depleted it will take a lot of rainfall for levels to recover.

The maps below show recent groundwater and loch level compared to the long-term record at each individual station. Level is reported as high or low compared to the typical (‘normal’) level range for the time of year. Level ranges are specific to each station and based on the long-term (minimum 10 years) record of mean monthly level values recorded at individual stations.

Groundwater levels

Groundwater levels across the country range from very low to very high for the time of the year after sharp differences in winter rainfall and groundwater recharge.

The east of the country has experienced above average rainfall throughout the winter of 2025/2026 and this has contributed to groundwater recovery. This is particularly the case in the northeast of the country, which has experienced significant recharge. Levels in the Ythan, which were the lowest on record in September 2025, are now very high for the time of year. They are also above the levels recorded a year ago, which were normal for February.

Angus has also experienced above average rainfall in recent months, and groundwater levels have recovered from very low to between normal and very high. Current levels at monitoring locations in Angus are higher than at the same time last year. Recovery has also taken place in Fife, although it is less pronounced and more variable between monitoring locations. Overall, levels are normal for the time of year in Fife and higher than at the beginning of 2025. However, levels are generally lower than at the same point during the winter of 2021/2022, which preceded a period of drought over the summer of 2022.

Groundwater levels in the southwest of the country are normal to high for the time of year and higher than at the same point in 2025. This contrasts with the north of the country, where levels are normal to very low for the time of the year, reflecting the below average rainfall over the winter months in the region. At most monitoring locations in the north, current groundwater levels are lower than those recorded in February 2025.

Groundwater levels can be impacted by a number of factors including rainfall, soil/rock type and proximity to a watercourse.

The points on the map show that levels range from very low to very high for the time of the year. Levels from the north-east monitoring points are now very high (dark blue) for the time of year. Levels around Fife overall normal (green) for the time of year. Southwest of the country are normal (green) to high (light blue). For the north of the country, levels are normal (green) to very low (dark orange) for the time of the year.

A map of Scotland showing how the mean monthly groundwater level for February compares to the long-term record at each individual station.

Loch levels

Loch levels from our monitoring points in central Scotland are broadly within the typical range (green) for this time of year. In the north of Scotland, loch levels are generally very low (dark orange) or low (orange) for the time of year following a relatively dry winter in the region.

A map of Scotland showing how the mean monthly loch level for February compares to the long-term record at each individual station.

Flow, rainfall and groundwater data are accessed via SEPA’s time series data service (API). SEPA's live data are subject to ongoing quality control and periodic review.