Met Office Reveals Exceptionally Hot and Dry July in North East Wales 2026

Key Points

• Met Office data shows exceptionally hot and dry July in North East Wales, according to a report by LeaderLive.
• Wales recorded its driest July on record, based on provisional Met Office statistics.
• Wales also experienced its joint-warmest July, with a mean temperature of 17.8°C.
• Wales received 9.3mm of rainfall during July, equivalent to only 9% of its long-term average.
• The previous Welsh July rainfall record was 22.6mm, recorded in 1911.
• The wider dry spell placed pressure on rivers, wildlife, habitats, crops and water resources.
• Drought status was extended across Wales as prolonged heat and limited rainfall continued.
• North East Wales was among the areas affected by below-average rainfall during the wider dry-weather period.
• The Met Office said July 2026 was also exceptionally sunny across the UK, England and Wales.
• The conditions are likely to remain important for farmers, households, businesses, wildlife and water managers across North East Wales.

Wales (Wales Times) August 06, 2026- North East Wales experienced an exceptionally hot and dry July, according to a report published by LeaderLive on 6 August 2026, citing newly available Met Office data. The report said the region went through one of its warmest and driest Julys on record.

The development forms part of a wider national weather pattern in which Wales recorded its driest July since records began. Provisional Met Office statistics showed that the country received only 9.3mm of rain throughout the month. That represented 9% of Wales’s long-term meteorological average for July. The total was also less than half the previous record low of 22.6mm, set in 1911.

The figures indicate that the exceptional conditions were not limited to isolated parts of the region. Instead, North East Wales experienced the same broader combination of prolonged warmth, intense sunshine and a marked shortage of rainfall that affected much of Wales during July.

The LeaderLive report identified the conditions in North East Wales as unusually hot and dry, but the available report information does not provide a separate rainfall total or temperature figure for every individual location in the region. The national Met Office statistics therefore provide the wider context for understanding the local development.

How warm was July across Wales?

Wales recorded its joint-warmest July on record, with a mean temperature of 17.8°C, according to provisional Met Office statistics. The figure matched July temperatures recorded in 2006 and 1983.

A mean temperature is calculated using temperatures recorded throughout the day and night, rather than relying only on the highest daytime reading. This means the result reflects both daytime heat and warmer overnight conditions.

The Met Office said temperatures were above average during the day and at night. Daily maximum temperatures for Wales were provisionally the highest recorded for July, while the UK overall recorded its second-highest July daily maximum temperatures.

For North East Wales, the combination of warm days and limited overnight cooling would have contributed to the perception of an unusually intense summer month. However, the regional report should not be interpreted as confirmation that every town or weather station in North East Wales experienced identical conditions.

The figures also demonstrate why the development was significant even though it was not defined solely by individual temperature records. A month can be exceptionally warm because average temperatures remain elevated over an extended period, without every area recording a new absolute maximum temperature.

Why was the rainfall shortage significant?

The most notable feature of July’s weather was the lack of rainfall. Wales received 9.3mm during the month, compared with its long-term July average of 100%, leaving the country at only 9% of its expected rainfall. The previous record was already unusually low, but July 2026’s total was less than half that earlier figure.

The shortage followed a drier-than-average period during the spring and early summer. Natural Resources Wales said that, by mid-July, many Welsh catchments had received between 0% and 10% of their long-term July average rainfall. It also reported that some catchments, particularly in North East Wales, had received below-average rainfall during the preceding months.

Natural Resources Wales reported that river temperatures had reached or exceeded 20°C in some areas, with the Wye and Usk rising above 26°C at their peaks. High water temperatures can add pressure to aquatic environments, particularly when river levels are also reduced.

The combination of low rainfall, high temperatures and strong sunshine can affect soil moisture and river flows. It can also increase demand for water from households, agriculture, industry and public services.

How did the dry weather affect Wales?

The prolonged dry spell led to growing concerns about water resources, farming, wildlife and river ecosystems. The Welsh Government said the continued lack of significant rainfall and sustained high temperatures were increasing pressure on rivers, wildlife and habitats.

Natural Resources Wales previously moved several catchments in North Wales, the Upper Severn and South East Wales into prolonged dry-weather status. The measure reflected continued rainfall shortages and the effects of persistent heat rather than a single day of extreme weather.

Drought status was later extended across Wales as the country moved towards its driest July in almost two centuries. Wales had received only a small proportion of its long-term average rainfall when the wider drought-status update was issued.

Earlier reporting by The Guardian said drought status had initially been declared in parts of North Wales and the Upper Severn after low river flows, successive heatwaves and widespread wildfires. It reported that several rivers, including the Clwyd, Alwen, Alyn, Clywedog, Dyfi and Conwy, had recorded new monthly minimum flows or were approaching record lows.

The effects were also relevant to agriculture. Dry soils can make it harder for crops and grassland to maintain growth, while low river levels can complicate water management for farms and increase pressure on livestock supplies.

Was July also unusually sunny?

Yes. The Met Office described July 2026 as an exceptional month for rainfall, temperature and sunshine records. Provisional statistics showed that the UK, England and Wales each recorded their sunniest July on record. England and Wales also recorded their sunniest calendar month ever observed.

Wales recorded 308 hours of sunshine, equal to 174% of its long-term average for July. The UK recorded 258.7 hours, equivalent to 149% of its average.

The high sunshine totals help explain why the month felt particularly intense across North East Wales. Sunshine alone does not determine whether a month is hot or dry, but prolonged bright conditions can increase evaporation and reduce the opportunity for soils, rivers and reservoirs to recover.

The Met Office said the national statistics were provisional. Weather records can be revised when additional observations are checked and quality-controlled, meaning final figures may differ slightly from the initial totals.

How does North East Wales fit into the national picture?

The North East Wales development occurred within an unusually severe national weather pattern. The Met Office reported that England and Wales had provisionally experienced their driest July on record, while July was the UK’s third-driest since records began in 1868.

England recorded 6.5mm of rainfall, or 10% of its long-term July average. Southern England had an even more extreme result, recording its driest month ever in a series dating back to 1836.

The wider statistics do not mean that all parts of the UK were affected equally. Scotland received considerably more rainfall than England and Wales, although its total was still below average. The UK as a whole received 28.9mm, or 35% of its long-term July average, according to provisional Met Office figures.

The national data does, however, show that the conditions reported in North East Wales were part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated local anomaly. The region’s warm and dry July coincided with record-breaking rainfall shortages across Wales.

What did earlier forecasts indicate about the month?

Before the final provisional statistics were released, Met Office data had already indicated that England and Wales were on course for an exceptionally dry July. By 30 July, Wales had received 7.9mm of rain, equivalent to 8% of its long-term average at that stage.

The Met Office later recorded Wales’s total July rainfall at 9.3mm. The revised figure reflects the complete month and the subsequent checking of weather observations.

The Met Office also said the UK had experienced an unprecedented run of heat records during the summer. Temperatures of at least 35°C were recorded in May, June and July of the same year for the first time in the UK weather record.

Those national records provide context, but they should not be used to assign a specific temperature to North East Wales unless a verified local station figure is available. The local significance remains the same: the area was reported as having experienced one of its warmest and driest Julys on record amid exceptional conditions across Wales.

Background: Why did July become so dry?

The July conditions followed several heatwaves and a period of below-average rainfall across Wales. Natural Resources Wales said rainfall across Welsh catchments had been very limited during July, while the preceding April-to-June period had also been drier than expected overall.

The lack of rain reduced the opportunity for rivers, soils and habitats to recover. Persistent warmth increased evaporation and water demand, while extended sunshine contributed to the rapid drying of the landscape.

As conditions worsened, authorities increased monitoring of catchments and water resources. Drought-status decisions were based on several indicators, including rainfall, river flows, water levels and the condition of the natural environment.

The provisional Met Office figures subsequently confirmed the scale of the month. Wales recorded its driest July on record and joint-warmest July, while the UK experienced a month marked by exceptional warmth, dryness and sunshine.

Prediction: What could this mean for North East Wales residents?

The effects on North East Wales will depend on how much meaningful rainfall arrives after July and whether river flows, reservoirs and soil moisture recover. If dry weather continues, households, farmers, wildlife organisations and businesses may face greater pressure to manage water carefully.

Farmers could remain particularly exposed because prolonged dryness can reduce grass growth, affect crops and increase the need for supplementary water. Rivers and wetlands may also remain vulnerable if rainfall is insufficient to restore flows and lower water temperatures.

For residents, the most likely practical consequence is continued attention to official water-use guidance and local drought updates. Further heat could increase wildfire risks and place additional stress on people, animals and outdoor environments.

Sudden heavy rain after a prolonged dry period could also create surface-water and flash-flood risks because hardened ground may absorb water less efficiently.

The development does not establish that North East Wales will experience the same conditions throughout the rest of 2026. It does show that the region entered the later part of summer after an exceptionally hot and dry July, making future rainfall, river-flow and water-resource updates particularly important for the local population.