STRONG winds have been battering Co Wexford since the early hours of this morning as Storm Barra arrived to our shores. The model county remains in an orange weather warning for wind, with all schools, third level institutions and most childcare facilities closed until it blows over. In fact on Tuesday evening, the Department of Education advised all Wexford schools to remain closed on Wednesday morning once again.
Met Éireann warned of winds which reaching speeds of 65 to 85 km/h, with severe or damaging gusts of 100 to 130 km/h and “localised stronger winds likely, with severe gusts on coasts”. Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding was expected along with disruption to power and travel.
Among the incidents reported across the county today are:
Schools across Co Wexford are to remain closed again on Wednesday on the advise of the Department of Education.
Cornmarket in Wexford town is closed to all vehicles and pedestrians form the Bullring to its junction with Abbey Street as a result of a dangerous roof. It will remain closed until 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Thousands of households are said to have lost power across the county. ESB crews are working to repair a major fault in Wexford town with nearly 3,000 customers impacted. They hope to have restored power to the vast majority in the coming hours and just before 2 p.m. they reported that power had been restored to 1,177 Clonard homes, however, there are still at least 800 homes in the area with no electricity with an estimated restoration time now stretching to tomorrow evening.
Over 150 homes in the Carricklawn area of Wexford town are without power. Estimated restoration currently is 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Power has reportedly been restored to some 1.964 homes in the Bellefield area of Enniscorthy, leaving 315 people without power near Vinegar Hill and 84 near Drumgoold, with estimated restoration times now set at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Some 1,127 people were without power in the Clonroche area, however, they ESB believes they’ve restored power to the majority on Tuesday evening.
ESB are dealing with a major fault at Barntown with 2,635 customers affected. While nearly 900 customers had power restored shortly after 6 p.m., the rest it seems will face an estimated wait until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
A fault at Bealistown left 2,018 people in the Ballycullane area with no power and a restoration estimate of 7.15 p.m. The same fault has caused outage for 130 customers between Duncormick and Wellingtonbridge. Some of these issues have been addressed, with power restored for around 400 customers shortly after 6 p.m. The rest face an estimated restoration time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Over 65 customers without power in the Bree and Knockanduff areas of Enniscorthy . Estimated return 6 p.m. Wednesday.
At least 87 customers are without power in the Campile area with a current estimated return time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
141 customers without power in the area between Taghmon and Adamstown, a further 56 in the North of the county at Crane, and 49 customers in the Clonhaston area of Enniscorthy. The current estimated restoration time for all is now 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening.
Over 500 homes are without power between Killinick, Cleariestown and Kilmore. with a further 63 in the Lady’s Island/Tacumshane area. All curerntly have an estimated restoration time of 6 p.m. Wednesday.
141 homes without power in Caroreigh. Current estimated restoration time is 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
In the North of the County, power has been restored for 58 customers at Tinahisk.
Road blocked by a fallen tree at Ballydicken Upper, Kyle, Crossabeg.
Fallen trees and cables at Rocklands in Wexford town, an electricity pole down at Glenbrien and the road was completely blocked between Meyler’s of Tacumshane and Broadway NS due to a fallen tree and cables.
The Adamstown road from Carrickbyrne is blocked at the moment. Motorists are told to avoid the area.
Trees down at Drinagh Garden Centre, Mulgannon Road, Kyle Middle and Screen. ESB pole reported to be down on the Curracloe Road,
Fallen trees reported near Gorey’s Main Street and on the R741 near Oulart.
Road closed at Butlerstown, Broadway, due to a fallen tree. Diversions in place.
A Boil Water notice has been put in place with immediate effect for Enniscorthy as a result of the severe weather and a loss of power at the Vinegar Hill Treatment plant. Wexford County Council had earlier stated that the water will be off in Enniscorthy tonight from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday)
All five Covid-19 test centres across the South East, including Wexford, are to close at 4 p.m. today. Those scheduled for appointments between 4-7pm this afternoon (Tuesday) are being contacted with the offer of an earlier appointment today or to reschedule to a time tomorrow Wednesday 8th of December.
Ballyhack car ferry is not running today due to the risk of strong winds.
At Rosslare Europort Stena Line have cancelled today’s 18:15 sailing to Fishguard and the 21:00 sailing to Cherbourg, as well as Wednesday’s 07:30 sailing to Fishguard and 21:00 sailing to Cherbourg. Irish Ferries have cancelled the 18:45 sailing to Pembroke, while the 08:45 sailing to the same destination on Wednesday is “in doubt”. DFDS’s 23:45 sailing to Dunkirk is also cancelled, as is Brittany Ferries’ 10:15 sailing to Bilbao tomorrow (Wednesday).
Creywell Road in New Ross is presently closed to traffic after a power line fell.
Power outages reported in the Rathnure and Killanne areas at 2.50 p.m.
Further reports of power outages at Oylegate and Castlebridge.
Wexford County Council’s Emergency Management Team says that there are currently “no major incidents to report” and that “while tides are high along the coast, flood defences in New Ross, Ballyhack and Arthurstown have performed extremely well, with no flooding to report in these areas”.
The council’s emergency response crews are all on standby and “ready to deal with any emerging issues as the storm intensifies” and they are asking that people “shelter in place during the storm and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary”. Those who are travelling are warned to be extremely vigilante for falling trees and other hazards.
Fallen trees on roads, localised flooding and other storm issues can be reported to Wexford County Council during office hours on 053 919 6000 or outside office hours on 1890 666 777.
In the event of a significant emergency or threat to safety, phone 999.
