DESPITE a wet second half of November water supplies in West Yorkshire are still well below the long term average.

The seven-month period ending in November was the second driest for the River Aire catchment since 1910 and the third driest for the River Calder catchment.

According to the latest figures from the Environment Agency, there was near average rainfall across Yorkshire but water levels in Yorkshire Water's reservoirs were still below 60%, 26% below the long term average at the end of the month.

The reservoir stocks showed a slight decline through the first half of the month as low intensity rainfall dominated but once the more significant rain arrived, the reservoirs started to show some improvement and began to rise.

Many of the rivers running from the Pennines were experiencing flows below what would normally be expected for the time of year with the River Aire at Kildwick notably low.

Soil became wetter and returned to more normal conditions expected for the time of year.