North Wales and the Upper Severn region are bracing themselves for a severe drought, with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) declaring a drought in these areas following an unprecedented period of heat and dryness. July 2026 is on course to become the driest month in nearly two centuries, leaving behind a trail of devastation in its wake.
The decision was prompted by record-low river flows, multiple heatwaves, and widespread wildfires that have ravaged the Welsh landscape. North Wales has seen less than 2% of its expected rainfall for the month, with rivers like the Clwyd, Alwen, Alyn, Clywedog, Dyfi, and Conwy struggling to meet their minimum flows. The Wye River is not far behind.
The drought's impact on the environment has been stark, with fish populations, wildlife, and agricultural crops all suffering. Wildfires that have burned for over a week continue to pose a threat, prompting the Welsh Government to activate its 'crisis' plans. This includes concerns over the availability of firefighting helicopters to combat the blazes effectively.
Rhian Thomas, Sustainable Water and Nature Manager at NRW, painted a grim picture: "The prolonged heat is having serious impacts on our environment. We've seen rivers hit record lows, groundwater decline, and reports of environmental damage affecting wildlife, fisheries, farming, and sensitive habitats."
Despite Welsh Water's reservoir levels remaining healthy, the company has implemented a hosepipe ban in parts of West Wales to conserve water. Residents across England and Wales are being urged to be mindful of their water usage, with an estimated 23 million people set to face hosepipe restrictions by the end of the week.
The Met Office warns that climate change will lead to UK summers becoming 1°C to 6°C hotter and up to 60% drier by 2070 compared to 1990 levels. Experts caution that without significant resilience measures, the consequences of such droughts will only intensify.