North Wales is still officially in drought, but there are signs that Wales is beginning to emerge from the effects of an exceptionally hot and dry summer.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) says recent rainfall has helped rivers in parts of the country recover, with south-west Wales now moving from drought into a period of recovery.

But rivers in north Wales, south-east Wales and the upper Severn remain low for the time of year, meaning drought status will continue in those areas for now.

Enhanced environmental monitoring remains in place as NRW assesses the ongoing impact of the dry conditions on rivers, water supplies, soils, wildlife and habitats.

Wales as a whole has received 78% of its expected rainfall for September so far.

Drought was first declared in north Wales on July 23 following a succession of heatwaves and dry weather. A week later, on July 30, drought status was extended across the whole of Wales.

Summer 2026 saw the driest July since records began 190 years ago, while July and August together were the driest two-month period since 1976. The Met Office has also said summer 2026 was provisionally the hottest summer on record for the UK.

Rhian Thomas, Sustainable Water and Nature Manager at Natural Resources Wales, said the summer heatwaves had intensified the dry conditions and caused widespread impacts on water, soils, wildlife and habitats.

She said the recent signs of recovery were encouraging but warned that more rainfall would be needed before the environment fully recovers.

NRW says it expects climate change to bring hotter, drier summers and wetter winters, with water becoming less reliably available throughout the year.

The organisation is continuing to advise the Welsh Government's Drought Liaison Group on environmental conditions, while working with representatives from the agricultural sector on issues including crop production and supplementary feeding for livestock.

NRW is also working with the Environment Agency in England on rivers which cross the border, including the River Severn and River Dee.

People are being encouraged to continue using water wisely through the autumn and winter to help support the natural recovery of the environment.