October 12, 2026 - 269 views
People across North Wales are being urged to check their flood risk and sign up for free warnings as Natural Resources Wales (NRW) warns that the return of wetter autumn and winter weather could bring flooding after months of drought and wildfires.
The advice comes as NRW runs its annual Be Flood Ready campaign from 12 to 16 October, encouraging households and businesses to prepare before severe weather arrives.
Although the summer's dry conditions may have pushed flooding out of people's minds, NRW says the change in seasons can bring a rapid return to heavy rain, storms and rising water levels.
The organisation says one in seven homes and businesses across Wales is at risk of flooding, and warns that people should not assume they are safe simply because their property has never flooded before.
Jeremy Parr, Head of Flood and Incident Risk Management at NRW, said many people affected by serious flooding had previously believed it would never happen to them.
He urged residents to check their risk and sign up for the free flood warning service, saying that being prepared could help reduce the impact on homes, businesses and communities.
The Met Office's long-range outlook for autumn also indicates an increased likelihood of wetter, windier and milder conditions than average, although periods of dry weather are still possible. The outlook describes broad seasonal trends rather than predicting exactly when or where individual storms and floods will occur.
NRW is encouraging people to take three simple steps: check their flood risk online using their postcode, register for flood warnings and make a plan for what to do if flooding is forecast.
The organisation says preparation is particularly important because flood defences cannot protect every location and cannot remove the risk entirely. Alongside investment in flood management schemes, local knowledge and community planning can help people respond when severe weather strikes.
Community flood plans can identify local risks, establish practical actions before, during and after flooding, and help neighbours support those who may need extra assistance.
In Cardigan, where properties and businesses sit alongside the River Teifi, local residents have been working together on a community flood plan.
Jane Roche, who runs a café and fishmongers beside the river and has helped coordinate the plan, said flooding had brought disruption to residents, businesses and visitors over many years.
She said the plan had brought people together, helped them understand what to do when warnings were issued and given them greater confidence that they could support one another during severe weather.
Ms Roche encouraged other communities to consider developing their own plans, saying it was better to prepare in advance than to make decisions when water was already rising.
NRW is also continuing to develop flood risk management schemes, including proposed tidal flood protection in Cardigan. The plans aim to reduce the risk to around 90 properties through a new tidal flood wall, improvements along The Strand and the creation of intertidal habitat.
For people in North Wales, the immediate advice is to check their individual circumstances rather than wait for a flood warning.
Residents can check their flood risk by postcode at Natural Resources Wales, sign up for free flood warnings and find guidance on preparing for a flood.
NRW says understanding the risk, knowing where to find reliable warnings and having a plan in place can make a difference when autumn and winter storms arrive.
