As per Met Éireann’s latest storm advice, the effects of Storm Barra will begin to be felt across Ireland from Tuesday morning, continuing all the way into Wednesday morning. The main impacts will include strong winds, falling trees and potential flooding. High tide in Galway Bay will be at 6.45am Tuesday.
Some trees may be compromised due to saturated soils at the moment, and with more rain forecast with Storm Barra some disruption due to falling trees/branches is likely. Heavy rain, coupled with falling leaves may block drains and gullies, leading to surface flooding. Galway City Council staff have been carrying out drainage maintenance across the city in advance of the storm to minimise potential flooding risks.
Storm Barra will produce significant swell, high waves and sizeable storm surges. This will lead to wave overtopping, some coastal flooding and damage, especially along western and southern coasts.
Following ongoing meetings of the Inter-Agency Co-ordination group today, based on the latest information available, a number of precautionary measures have been put in place.
Road Closures:
• Closure of Silverstrand Beach at 6pm Monday
• Closure of Ballyloughane Beach at midnight (Local Traffic only )
• Closure of Rosshill Road at 06.00am Tuesday
• Closure of Salthill Promenade at midnight:
- Blackrock Tower to Seapoint and onto Grattan Road. (Closure of Grattan Road may be required. Monitoring in place to decide. )
• Potential closure of roads along the Claddagh, Docks and Spanish Arch from 5.00am Tuesday
There may be further closures throughout the city as required and the situation will be closely monitored and regular updates given. Motorists will experience delays as a result.
Car Park Closures:
• Closure of car parks at Toft Car Park and Salthill Car Park
All vehicle owners must move their vehicles from car parks and along the promenade.
Sandbag Arrangements:
Sand bags are now available at the following manned locations:
• Tourist Kiosk Salthill
• Claddagh Hall
• Fire Station Fr Burke Road
• Spanish Arch
• Docks beside the Pedestrian Crossing (St Nicholas Street )
*Please note that anyone who avails of sandbags should retain them in their possession for use throughout the upcoming winter season. Please do not take any more sandbags than you need.
Flood Barrier:
A flood barrier has been erected at Spanish Arch
Arrangements for Rough Sleepers: Galway City Council is working with emergency service providers to ensure that emergency accommodation is provided at locations including The Glenoaks, Fairgreen & Osterley Lodge. Contact 085 8009709 or 085 8009641. The COPE Galway Day Centre will remain open all day Tuesday from 8.30 a.m. to closing
Customer Services: Galway City Council Customer Services phone lines will is available to deal with emergency calls on (091 ) 536400
Business owners and homeowners are advised to check their own drains and secure any loose objects within their property in advance of the warning taking effect.
Galway City Council advises remaining indoors during the period of the warning and, as always, to avoid coastal areas. Parks and other wooded areas should also be avoided, due to the danger of falling trees. If absolutely essential to travel, please exercise extreme caution out & about especially on coastal roads and exposed shores.
Galway City Council staff will be on standby for clean-up following the passing of Storm Barra and the associated warning once it has been deemed safe to do so. Please note the associated clean-up which will commence on Wednesday morning may impact on traffic.
Galway City Council and the Inter-Agency Co-ordination group will continue to monitor Storm Barra as it evolves and take all necessary precautions and provide further updates on its website www.galwaycity.ie and its social media platforms.
Meanwhile in the county, Galway County Council says the public are advised to take extreme caution due to the imminent arrival of Storm Barra to the west coast of Ireland early tomorrow morning. All coastal areas are at risk of flooding with high tides coinciding with heavy rainfall level over the period of the storm. Galway County is currently at an Orange level alert and the progress of the storm will be monitored on an hourly basis.
The warning remains in place from 6am Tuesday until 6am Wednesday.
On Tuesday and Tuesday night, due to Storm Barra, southerly winds, later becoming to northwesterly, will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/hr with severe or damaging gusts of up to 130 Km/ hr, possibly higher in coastal areas.
Motorists are warned to only undertake necessary journeys on Tuesday. Householders and businesses in coastal areas stretching were warned to take precautions against storm surge-related flooding.
Council crews are on standby to respond to issues as they arise.
Members of the public wishing to report any fallen trees or other matters of concern should call the main County Council line 091 509000 which will be manned 24 /7.
