Wales has been moved to 'prolonged dry weather' status by Natural Resources Wales as the extended period of warm and dry weather continues. A change has been forecast for this week with some "unsettled weather", but there are concerns about "the pressures high temperatures and lack of significant rainfall has placed on rivers, groundwater levels, wildlife and the wider natural environment across Wales".
The agency has explained that "prolonged dry weather" is a natural event which has "become more likely as climate change accelerates". It occurs when rainfall is lower than expected for a sustained period of time resulting in low river, reservoir and groundwater levels as well as the drying up of land and soils. Last year, south-west Wales moved from "prolonged dry weather status" to "drought status" in August.
Despite recent rainfall triggered by summer thunderstorms in some parts of Wales, river flows across Wales are currently low for the time of year. NRW says that groundwater levels have also been receding, with some sites exceptionally low and soils drier than expected.
