The Great Orme could be cut off from the mainland in just six years as Llandudno, Conwy, Colwyn Bay and other North Wales coastal towns face rising sea levels.

Climate Central, an independent organisation of scientists and journalists, pulled together data projections and peer-reviewed science from leading journals to create a map showing which areas of the UK could be under sea level by 2030 and beyond.

It reveals that much of coastal North Wales is at risk of being under water with communities and wildlife habitats potentially devastated.

Llandudno could be one of the worst affected towns, with water levels rising to cover swathes of land from the West Beach across to the North Beach, effectively cutting off the Great Orme. 

Another strip of flood area is projected to run from Llanduno Junction to Penrhyn Bay, splitting the Creuddyn Peninsula into three sections and forcing people and businesses to relocate.

Further down the coast Penmaenmawr Beach could be lost while nature reserves at Llanfairfechan and Morfa Aber may be inundated.

The risks are not confined to the coast, with communities along the River Clwyd including Dolgarrog and Tal-y-Bont facing possible danger.

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Climate Central maps are not based on physical storm and flood simulations and do not take into account factors such as erosion, future changes in the frequency or intensity of storms, inland flooding or contributions from rainfall or rivers.

A spokesman for Climate Central said: “As these maps incorporate big datasets, which always include some error, these maps should be regarded as screening tools to identify places that may require deeper investigation of risk.

“Our approach makes it easy to map any scenario quickly and reflects threats from permanent future sea level rises as well.”