March saw a continuation of February’s high pressure, resulting in settled and warmer than average conditions for most of the month. All regions received below average rainfall, with the UK as a whole recording less than half the average for March. Correspondingly, river flows were below normal or lower across much of the country. Many rivers in northern and western areas registered exceptionally low flows, some of which were the lowest average March flows on record. Groundwater levels generally declined, with record March lows in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. At month-end, reservoir stocks for England & Wales were at 90% of capacity, just below average, but almost all impoundments recorded reductions relative to average (e.g. Northern Command Zone and Celyn & Brenig were 12% and 11% below average, respectively). Soils were drier than average in all areas apart from the Western Isles & Shetland. The prolonged dry spell and above average temperatures have led to a higher-than-usual frequency of wildfires for the time of year and concerns for agriculture at the start of the growing season. With settled weather continuing into early April and little appreciable rainfall, the Outlook is for below normal river flows for most areas over the next three months, except for groundwater-dominated catchments in south-east England, which are likely to be in the normal range or above. A continuation of the dry conditions in the north and west, particularly this early in the year, would cause concern regarding water resources over coming months.