Wales Declares Nationwide Drought After Record Dry July

Drought status has been extended to cover the entirety of Wales as the country faces an exceptionally dry July that is on course to be the driest in 190 years of records. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirmed the nationwide declaration on Thursday, July 30, 2026, following a week after parts of north Wales and the Upper Severn were first placed into drought status.

The environmental regulator cited sustained high temperatures and a severe lack of rainfall, with Wales having received only 8% of its long-term average rainfall for July. This has led to rapidly deteriorating conditions across the natural environment. The majority of rivers are reported to be at exceptionally low levels, including the Clwyd, Alyn, Clywedog, Dyfi, Conwy, Cleddau, Cothi, Teifi, Wye, and Usk. Groundwater levels are also continuing to fall and are lower than expected for this time of year.

NRW teams are responding to increasing reports of environmental damage, including drying riverbeds, fish in distress, algal blooms, and a continued high risk of wildfires. The agricultural sector is facing significant challenges, with concerns over stunted crop growth, poor grazing conditions, and dwindling water...