Storm Austen leaves trail of damage across Waterford

Storm Austen left a trail of disruption across Waterford on Friday morning last, with fallen trees, flooding and damaged infrastructure reported in a number of locations throughout the county.

Waterford City and County Council crews were deployed from the early morning to deal with the storm’s aftermath as hazardous conditions affected roads in both the city and county.

Several trees were brought down by strong winds, with incidents reported on the Tramore Road, the Outer Ring Road and the Coast Road in Dungarvan. A fallen tree also blocked the road between Applegreen Passage Cross and Jack Meades Bar during the early hours, causing difficulties for motorists.

In Dunmore East, a tree fell onto a streetlight on High Road, partially obstructing the roadway. The impact left the streetlight damaged and leaning to one side, highlighting the force of the overnight storm.

Flooding was also reported in a number of areas. Hennessey’s Road in Waterford City was affected, while surface water accumulated on the N25 approaching the Sayer Land Roundabout in Dungarvan, creating hazardous driving conditions for commuters.

Concerns were also raised in the Colligan Woods area of Dungarvan, where a tree fell onto electrical wires. Members of the public were advised to stay clear of any fallen cables and to report damaged electrical infrastructure immediately to authorities.

Waterford City and County Council confirmed that ground crews worked throughout last Friday morning to respond to incidents and clear debris from roads as quickly as possible.

Motorists were urged to exercise caution while travelling, particularly on roads where flooding occurred or where clean-up operations took place.

Drivers were advised to watch for fallen branches and debris that may still be present after the storm.

The scale of the clean-up operation underlined the impact of Storm Austen on communities across Waterford after a night of severe weather.

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