Road closures and flooding as weather alerts for Waterford increase
A status Yellow rain warning remains in place for County Waterford and will remain so until at least 11pm tonight, Tuesday, January 27.
A status Yellow rain warning remains in place for County Waterford and will remain so until at least 11pm tonight, Tuesday, January 27.
Waterford City and County Council is advising the public to exercise caution, heed public safety advice and avoid unnecessary journeys as driving conditions may be hazardous.
Due to flooding, Military Road in Dungarvan is closed and there have been reports of spot flooding in Portlaw.
Carparks at Davitt’s Quay, The Pond, The Lookout and Castle Street in Dungarvan also remain closed to the public.
Motorists are advised to slow down, increase stopping distances and watch for surface water, fallen trees and branches and debris on roads.
A spokesperson for the local authority said motorists should avoid driving through flowing or standing water and if the road ahead is flooded, to not enter, turn around and find another route.
"Motorists are also reminded to be conscious of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists," said the spokesperson.
Waterford City and County Council’s crews are on the ground and actively monitoring the situation and dealing with any issues as they arise, such as localised flooding, blocked drains, gulley overflows.
Members of the public can contact Waterford City and County Council’s Customer Services Desk on 0818 10 20 20.
Outside of office hours calls will be transferred to the Council’s emergency services number.
The spokesperson warned there is potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas, especially in eastern counties.
"In addition to this, heavy persistent showers are expected, which in turn may lead to surface flooding in urban locations," she said.
The public are also advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period and the Irish Coast Guard are appealing to people to 'stay back, stay high and stay dry'.
People should also stay away from swollen rivers, streams and flooded riverbanks as banks can collapse without warning.
The public should also avoid open riverbanks and canal paths in flood conditions and be mindful that water levels and currents may be far stronger than usual.
"Avoid contact with floodwater where possible; it may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals or sharp debris," said the Waterford Council spokesperson.
"People are advised to prepare for this period of severe weather, including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication," she added.
To monitor Met Éireann forecasts and to get up-to-date information go to www.met.ie and information is also available on social media platforms and waterford-news.ie.
ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately.
ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can also monitor www.powercheck.ie for power restoration times in the event of electricity cuts.
Please note the following emergency contact numbers below: Emergency 999/112; Uisce Éireann 1800 278 278; ESB Networks 1800 372 999 and Gas Networks Ireland 1800 205.
