Latest News & Announcements

Road Closed – L4085 Knockroe Passage East for fallen tree and ESB wires. ESB on site.

Met Éireann has issued further Status Yellow warnings for Waterford, indicating adverse weather conditions (both wind and rain) in the coming days. Residents are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions.

Rain Warning

• Duration: 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, January 26, 2025
• Details: Heavy downpours may lead to spot flooding.

Wind Warnings

1. First Warning:
   • Duration: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Sunday, January 26, 2025
   • Details: Strong and gusty winds are expected, which may cause further damage to already weakened structures and trees, leading to dangerous travelling conditions.
2. Second Warning:
   • Duration: 11:00 PM on Sunday, January 26, to 9:00 AM on Monday, January 27, 2025
   • Details: Continued strong and gusty winds with similar potential impacts on structures and travel safety.

Safety Recommendations:

• Travel: Exercise caution on the roads due to potential debris and reduced visibility.
• Property: Secure loose items around your property to prevent them from being displaced by strong winds.

Regularly check updates from Met Éireann for the latest information.

Waterford City and County Council crews are responding to incidences of fallen trees, overhanging branches and debris on roads caused by Storm Éowyn.  The crews are prioritising reopening roads that are impassable or partially blocked.

Information on reported issues can be found on https://waterfordcouncil.ie/storm-eowyn-update-friday-24th-jan/

Please exercise caution when travelling.

It’s been a busy day for Waterford City and County Council ground crews in the aftermath of #StormÉowyn, attending to over forty storm-related incidents.

Even though the Met Éireann weather warnings have passed, please exercise caution when travelling, slow down and take extra care on your journey.

Tonight (Friday 24th January) is predicted to be a cold night with possiblity of frost etc.  See our Gritting Routes here.

Reported Hazards

• Oak Road, Viewmount – Dangerous tree – caution needed (15:45 pm)
• Parnell Street, Dungarvan – caution needed due to dangerous slates (15:20 pm)
• CLEARED L3009 – just past Barnawee Bridge, Dungarvan – Overhanging tree (13:20 pm)
• CLEARED Cheekpoint road, past Jack Meade’s – Tree in danger of falling (13:15 pm)
• CLEARED Ballyetra West, Ballyknock, Dungarvan – Tree Down  (13:05 pm)
• Newtown Hill Estate, Tramore – Tree Down (12:45 pm)
• L3059 Joanstown to Mothel road blocked with tree (12:25 pm)
• CLEARED Between Faithlegg and Passage road – Roof debris – proceed with caution (12:25 pm)
• CLEARED Lismore Lawn, Waterford – tree down. (12:10 pm)
• Tree partially on road at Curraheenavoher, Ballymacarbry (12:05 pm)
• CLEARED Johnstown Business Park, Waterford – Wires down / Trees (12:00 pm)
• Saratoga pub carpark, Woodstown – Tree down – passable but one lane affected (11:45 am)
• CLEARED Report of fallen tree blocking road at Quarter, Ballyknock, Lower Dungarvan. (11:25 am)
• CLEARED R684 Dunmore Road at Belle Lake – Tree down. Road is passable but proceed with caution. (11:15 am)
• CLEARED Castlequarter, Dungarvan – Road closed, Tree down (11:08 am)
• CLEARED Tree down near Haleon factory, Ballinure, Dungarvan. (11:08 am)
• CLEARED Knockroe, Passage East – Wires / Tree down.  Road blocked (11:07 am)
• CLEARED Road between Towers and Ballyduff Upper – overhanging branches (11:05 am)
• CLEARED N25 Garranbane – Trees down (11:05 am)
• CLEARED L6043 Ticknock – Trees down (11:00 am)
• L5055 at Cluttahinna – Road closed due to fallen tree (10:45 am)
• CLEARED O’Connell St., Dungarvan – Dangerous light fitting (10:45 am)
• R671 Kilcomma – ESB Pole down (10:30 am)
• L6067 Springfield, Cappoquin – Road Closed / Trees down (10:30 am)
• CLEARED Ballyduff Beg, Dungarvan. Carriglea School road – Trees down (10:25 am)
• R671, Clashmore – Road closed on Aglish side / Trees down (10:20 am)
• CLEARED Burgery, Dungarvan – Trees down (10:15 am)
• CLEARED R685, 3km outside Tramore, near grotto – Trees down (10:10 am)
• CLEARED R671, near Ballymacarbry School – Trees down (9:50 am)
• Patrick St., Tramore – ESB Pole down (9:15 am)
• CLEARED Woodstown Road at Rossduff – Trees down (8:18 am)
• St. Otteran’s Terrace, Tramore – Debris (7:20 am)
• CLEARED Glencairn, Lismore, Co Waterford – Tree fallen on power lines
• CLEARED Maypark Lane, Waterford – Trees down (1:20 am)
• N72, Dungarvan to Cappoquin at the Pike Service Station – Trees down (12:05 am)
• CLEARED N25 at Youghal Bridge – Trees down (11:41 pm)

Members of the public can report any issues to Waterford City and County Council’s Customer Services Desks by calling 0818 10 20 20 during normal office hours, after which calls will be transferred to the Council’s emergency services number.

Please note the following emergency contact numbers below:
Emergency 999/112
Uisce Éireann 1800 278 278
ESB Networks 1800 372 999
Gas Networks Ireland 1800 205 050

Met Éireann has issued a Status Red Weather Warning for all of Ireland with warning of possible “danger to life”, with the public advised to shelter in place.

The Status Red Wind warning for Waterford will be in effect from 02:00am to 10:00am Friday, January 24^th and will bring gale force winds with dangerous, damaging and destructive gusts in excess of 130km per hour.

A Status Orange Wind warning will be in place from midnight (00:00) to 16:00pm on Friday, January 24^th and a Status Yellow Rain warning will be in place from 21:00pm Thursday, January 23^rd to 05:00am on Friday, January 24^th.

The impacts of Storm Éowyn include:

Danger to life
Extremely dangerous travelling conditions
Unsafe working conditions
Disruption and cancellations to transport
Many fallen trees
Significant and widespread power outages
Impacts to communications networks
Cancellation of event
Structural damage
Wave overtopping
Coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas

Waterford City and County Council’s severe weather assessment team convened again this morning and is advising the public that Storm Éowyn will be a dangerous, destructive, nationwide multi-hazard event.

Gabriel Hynes, Senior Engineer with Waterford City and County Council has urged the public to exercise extreme caution during the duration of this weather warning.

“Storm Éowyn is an extremely dangerous, damaging and destructive storm and will track across the whole of the country, bringing gale force winds and gusts from the early hours of Friday morning through to Friday evening.

“We would urge the public to heed all public safety advice, to not travel and shelter in place during the duration of the Status Red weather warning.  The strong winds will lead to fallen trees, branches, and structural debris on the roads, making journeys extremely dangerous.

“With coastal water levels high there is also a risk of wave overtopping, and the public is advised to stay away from all coastal areas and adhere to the messaging from the Irish Coast Guard to stay back, stay high and stay dry. There is also potential for localised and spot flooding.”

Waterford City and County Council’s severe weather assessment team will continue to monitor the situation and Council ground crews are on stand-by to put in place mitigation measures.  However, Council outdoor personnel will not operate during the duration of the Status Red warning and once the warning has passed will be on site throughout the city and county as soon as it is safe to do so.

Waterford City and County Council’s Integrated Homeless Services Severe Weather Protocol is also in operation, with extra bed capacity available at McGwire House. The Outreach Team from Waterford Integrated Homeless Services has been in contact with any known rough sleepers to advise them of the shelter arrangements.

Members of the public can contact Waterford City and County Council’s Customer Services Desks on 0818 10 20 20 from 09:00am to 22:00pm on Friday, January 24^th after which calls will be transferred to the Council’s emergency services number.

On Saturday, January 25^th, Waterford City and County Council’s Customer Services Desks will phone lines will be in operation from 09:00am to 13:00pm.

Please note the following emergency contact numbers below:
Emergency 999/112
Uisce Éireann 1800 278 278
ESB Networks 1800 372 999
Gas Networks Ireland 1800 205 050

Key public safety messages:

• During Status Red Level wind warnings, the public is advised not to travel, stay indoors and shelter in place.
• During Status Orange warnings, the public is advised to limit travel to essential only in areas where an orange level warning is in place. Essential services operators will continue to operate services subject to advice from Met Éireann on prevailing local conditions.
• The forecasted winds have the capacity to bring severe, destructive and damaging winds which will constitute a risk to life and property.
• High seas; the public is advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period. The Irish Coast Guard is appealing to people to “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry”.
• There is a potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas. In addition to this, Storm Éowyn may also bring localised heavy showers, which in turn may lead to localised flooding.
• The electricity network is expected to be severely impacted, the public are advised to prepare for the arrival of the storm including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication.
• The public is advised not to travel during the Status Red Warnings
• Ensure insofar as possible outdoor items like bins, garden furniture, play equipment (e.g. trampolines) are secured.
• Charge mobile phones and prepare for potential power outages. Have a flashlight and batteries on hand.
• Roads and pathways may be hazardous due to debris and fallen trees.
• Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours, family, or friends.
• Report issues (e.g. blocked roads, etc) to the Council.
• Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources.
• 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 monitor www.PowerCheck.ie in regards to power restoration times.
• Uisce Éireann customers can check the website and social media channels for updates and to get in touch with any issues or concerns via their 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. The public can also sign up online to our free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies – see www.water.ie