Both two-and three-dimensional classical trajectory studies have been made for the photodissociation of H₂O in the first absorption band. Wigner density functions have been used in sampling the initial conditions for trajectories after a Franck–Condon excitation. Final vibrational and rotational distributions of the dissociation fragment OH(X²Π) have been obtained and compared with experimental and quantum-mechanical results. The relative population ratios of the first three vibrational states of OH at E=–1.62 eV (157 nm photons) are calculated to be 1:0.89:0.63, which compare well with the experimental ratios 1:0.96:0.58 and with quantum infinite-order-sudden (IOS) ratios 1:0.81:0.53. The rotational distributions of OH obtained from the two-dimensional trajectory calculations agree with the quantum results but not with the experimental distributions which have peaks at j= 1. Three-dimensional trajectory results give rotational distributions matching quite well with the experimental findings. A total absorption cross-section has also been obtained in agreement with experiment.