Welsh communities must "prepare for the unthinkable" this winter, as environmental chiefs warn that months of severe drought and wildfires could rapidly give way to devastating floods.

The stark alert from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) coincides with the launch of its annual Be Flood Ready campaign. The initiative aims to combat widespread public complacency following an exceptionally dry, record-breaking summer.

Long-range seasonal forecasts released by the Met Office indicate a heightened potential for an unusually wet and windy winter ahead.

Compounding the threat is the current state of Welsh soil. Months of extreme heat have left the ground baked hard and parched. Experts warn that when heavy downpours hit this non-porous earth, the water cannot absorb safely into the ground. Instead, it will create immediate surface water runoff, threatening to overwhelm local drainage networks and cause flash flooding.

According to official NRW data, one in seven homes and businesses in Wales is currently classified as being at risk of flooding.

Jeremy Parr, NRW’s Head of Flood and Incident Risk Management, urged residents not to let the recent dry weather cloud their judgment.

"Wales is no stranger to extreme weather," Parr said. "Many communities will still be feeling the effects of flooding and storms experienced last winter, as well as drought and wildfires this summer. Just because you've never experienced flooding before doesn't mean you're not at risk."

Parr added that emergency teams are frequently met by devastated homeowners who mistakenly believed their neighborhood was safe simply because it had never flooded in the past.

In response to growing nationwide threats, the UK Government has launched a new extreme weather taskforce to review winter defences and multi-agency response strategies.

Natural Resources Wales is running its Be Flood Ready campaign until 16th October, with Monmouth Town Council sharing advice and information throughout the week.

Flood Forum: Winter Preparedness Webinar, Wednesday, 14th October 2026

Topics will include:

- Types of Flooding

- Roles & Responsibilities of Flood Risk Management Agencies

- Early Warning Systems

- What action can you take now?

- Managing your wellbeing

This webinar is free to join and will be hosted via Teams. Sign up by emailing: [email protected]

A link to join the webinar via Microsoft Teams will follow after you register.