Wales Flood Risk Warning: Just 27% of Properties Receive Alerts

Wales is expected to face more frequent, wetter and harsher winters as climate change increases the likelihood of more frequent and intense extreme weather events.

At the same time, scientists are monitoring what has been described as the “strongest El Niño in living memory” over the Pacific Ocean this year. Strong natural weather events can raise global temperatures and increase the risk of extreme weather.

Flooding risk expected to remain a concern

Jeremy Parr of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said El Niño would not automatically lead to bad weather in the UK, but was “part of the picture” causing concern over the coming months.

“We’re investing in flood protection… but we can’t stop all flooding all the time,” he said.

He urged people to consider how they would respond if flooding affected their local area, even if the possibility seemed “unthinkable or uncomfortable”.

The group said it had been told “over and over again” by people who had experienced devastating floods that they had “never been in a flood before and never thought it would happen to them”.

How to check your flood risk in Wales

NRW advises people to check their postcode online for flood risk, external, sign up for flood alerts and access advice on what to do during a flood, external if flooding is expected in the area.

NRW’s flood warning service is available to 181,158 properties in Wales. However, new figures show that only 48,844 properties are currently registered to receive alerts by phone or email.

That means just 27% are registered, which Parr described as a low figure. He suggested that some people may be deterred by the myth that signing up for flood alerts could affect their insurance premiums.