Ammanford, Llandovery, Llandeilo, Cross Hands flood risk levels

NRW recently updated its flood risk maps on its website, which shows the areas that are most at risk of flooding from the sea and rivers.

The map also takes into account flooding from surface water and smaller watercourses and now includes coastal erosion data. It categorises each area into risk categories of low, medium and high.

The data, which is being used by local authorities and the Welsh Government to improve flood defences and to map out new homes, provides an insight into the effects of the more extreme weather brought on by climate change and how it is being combatted.

On the map, a high flood risk from rivers means there is a chance greater than one in 30 of the area flooding each year.

The map also includes areas where there are flood defences in place. NRW states that flood defences reduce the chances of flooding but does not completely stop any flooding.

Here we take a look at the flood risk for a number of areas. In the images, a darker blue corresponds to a high flood risk, whilst a lighter blue corresponds to a low flood risk.

The purple that is shown represents areas with a low risk of flooding from surface water or other small watercourses.

Ammanford and the Amman Valley

There is a high river flood risk for parts of Ammanford and the Amman Valley immediately surrounding the River Aman, which widens the closer you get to the River Loughor and also around the Glanaman area.

By the time the river reaches Lower Brynamman, the high risk area is limited to immediately surrounding the river, and there is only a low risk in some small areas close to the river.

Much of the wider area surrounding the River Aman comes under a low risk category for flooding from rivers, particularly around the centre of the town. The likes of Upper Brynamman and Cwmgors are unlikely to be affected by flooding from the river.

A number of areas throughout the valley and towns are at a low risk of flooding from surface water or other small watercourses.

Llandybie

In Llandybie, there are both high and low river flood risk areas throughout the town, but there are also a number of areas, particularly close to the centre, which are at a low risk of flooding from surface water or other small watercourses.

Gwendraeth Valley

The Gwendraeth Valley has almost no risk of river flooding but there are a number of patches throughout Cross Hands, Gorslas, Capel Hendre and Tumble which are at a low risk of flooding from surface water or other small watercourses.

There is a risk of flooding around the wider Pontyberem area, although the town itself is only at a low risk of flooding from surface water or other small watercourses.

Towy Valley

The Towy Valley is at a high risk of river flooding, although part of it just outside of Llandeilo is currently under review (the black outline). The main town of Llandeilo is at almost no risk of flooding, but the surrounding areas are at high risk. Parts of Dryslwyn are also under high risk as are parts of Llandovery. There are also low-risk areas in Llandovery too, and part of the high risk area is alongside the A40.

There are multiple areas throughout the valley that have a low risk of flooding from surface water and other small watercourses.

Swansea Valley

The Swansea Valley has an overall low level of river flooding risk, with Ystradgynlais being unaffected, however, Pontardawe has a mix of low and high-risk areas.

There are also areas throughout the valley which have a low risk of surface water and other small watercourse flooding.

Pontarddulais

Much of Pontarddulais is covered by a low river flood risk as well as low risk of flooding from surface water and other small watercourse flooding.

There are parts of the town and surrounding areas with a medium and high risk of flooding from rivers and some of the outer parts may be at a high risk of flooding from the sea (represented by green).

The full map can be seen at https://flood-risk-maps.naturalresources.wales/?locale=en