Severe Drought Hits Wales as River Levels Plummet and Grass Withers

River levels across Wales are approaching all‑time lows as an imminent “environmental drought” is expected to be announced by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). The country has recorded only about 5% of the average July rainfall after successive heatwaves and a dry spring, causing “significant problems” for fish, wildlife, crops and livestock.

NRW has upgraded the weather status to “prolonged dry weather” for north and south‑east Wales, citing low river flows, reduced groundwater, and severely dried soils. Affected rivers include the Dee, Severn, Wye, Usk and others. Grassland, parks, sports pitches and farmland have turned brown and become unusable, with farmers reporting major crop losses.

The drought follows a wider European heatwave that has intensified water scarcity and productivity losses across the UK and continent.