Severe Weather

The OPW has advised that there will be a period of surge on top of very high astronomical Spring Tides that are approaching Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) in all coastal areas, commencing Tuesday March 21^st until Wednesday March 22^nd 2023. 

It is expected that HAT levels will be exceeded in many areas around the coast during this period. Storm surge levels are predicted to significantly increase in coastal areas from Tuesday 21st March .

With localised flooding anticipated, Waterford City and County Council will deploy flood barriers in Waterford City and Passage East.

The following car parks are at risk of flooding and as a precautionary measure, will be closed to the public from mid-afternoon today (Tuesday, March 21^st) until 0800 tomorrow (Wednesday, March 22^nd)

• Davitt’s Quay
• The Pond
• The Lookout
• Castle Street Carpark

Waterford City and County Council advises the public to stay away from exposed piers, harbours and sea walls as there is a risk of wave over-topping.

-ends-

With weather in Waterford turning cold and windy tonight Thursday, into Friday, with falls of rain and sleet expected, it will give rise to poor visibility and hazardous road conditions, especially on untreated roads.

Please drive with extreme caution, particularly between 0700 and 1000 on Friday, March 10^th.  We will be treating all our marked routes beginning at 8pm this evening.

• See a map of our Winter Maintenance routes here.

For further information visit www.met.ie

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users to prepare for further cold weather conditions as Met Eireann have issued a nationwide Yellow warning for snow over the next two days. This will lead to hazardous road conditions and reduced visibility.  Some counties are also subject to an orange weather warning for snow.

Road users are being advised to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on any journeys. The RSA has the following practical advice for road users in snowy conditions:

Drivers are advised to:

·      Remove all snow from your vehicle before commencing your journey. Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision. It can also fall off during your drive and cause injury to pedestrians or a reflex action by another driver.

·      Clear windows and mirrors before you set out, use a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.

·      In snowy conditions slow down, use all controls delicately and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Avoid over steering and harsh braking and harsh acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends.

·      In snowy conditions, visibility will be reduced. Do not drive on the tail-lights of the vehicle in front (Target Fixing). This can give a false sense of security and you will be too close to be able to brake safely. In heavy snow, use your fog lights, turn off your radio and open your window a fraction, so you can hear other traffic, especially at junctions.

·      Use dipped headlights at all times, and fog lights in heavy snow to ensure you are seen by other motorists (but don’t forget to turn them off afterwards).

·      Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space.

·      Drivers of high sided vehicles like trucks and buses are particularly at risk from both the dangers posed by snow but also from the high winds associated with heavy snow conditions.

For a copy of the RSA’s ‘Top 10 tips for driving in snowy conditions click here.

Pedestrians are advised to:

·      Wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch as visibility is reduced in snowy conditions. Wear clothing that does not restrict your vision.

·      Wear appropriate footwear. Walk on the footpath, not in the street. Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths.

·      DO NOT underestimate the danger of snow and ice. Many slips and falls happen in places people regard as safe and secure, typically outside their front door, on the door step, on the path or while getting out of the car. When you approach a footpath or roadway that appears to be covered with snow or ice, always use extreme caution.

 For a copy of the RSA’s ‘Top 10 tips to avoid a fall or slip in snowy conditions click here.

Cyclists and Motorcyclists are advised to:

·      Motorcyclists / Cyclists should not compromise their safety by their ‘need’ to travel in snowy conditions.

·      Visibility is reduced in snowy conditions so cyclists should wear a Sam Browne Bandoleer belt or high visibility vest and ensure the lights on your bike are working correctly.

·      Motorcyclists should avoid wearing a dark visor in any bad light conditions.

More safety tips for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorcyclists using the roads in snowy conditions can be found here.

See RSA Road Safety Alert for Ice issued on 6 March 2023 for more information and advice on using the roads in the current weather.

For advice on severe weather driving tips and weather updates, please see severe weather advice on or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages.

See advice on driving in our series of Severe Weather Warning videos created in collaboration with Teresa Mannion.

For more weather updates visit Met Eireann’s website here

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users to prepare for hazardous conditions on roads and footpaths as Met Eireann has issued a warning for low temperatures and ice. This will include low single figures by day and sharp or severe frosts and icy patches at night from Wednesday and into the weekend for all of Ireland. There is also a risk of hailstones and snow in some parts of the country.

After the recent prolonged spell of mild weather road users are being advised not to get caught out by a drop in temperatures. They should expect icy roads and be extra cautious on untreated road surfaces.

Road users should also watch out for black ice. If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see. It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. The sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls are prone to black ice.

The advice for drivers to deal with icy road conditions is.

• Clear your windows and mirrors of any ice, carry a screen scraper and de-icer.
• Remember it takes longer to stop in icy conditions. Manoeuvre gently, slow down and increase your braking distance or ‘safe space’ by leaving an extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.
• Avoid too much steering, harsh braking, and acceleration.
• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends.
• Check tyres and replace them if the tread depth falls below 3mm. Check they’re inflated to the correct tyre pressure.
• Familiarise yourself with any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) in your vehicle.
• Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space when overtaking them.

Met Eireann is also warning of a risk of hailstone showers, especially in the west and northern parts of the country. The difficulty with hail showers is their unpredictability and localised nature.  As a hail shower tracks across the country it deposits a narrow band of ball bearing sized hailstones on the ground.

The RSA has the following advice for drivers who encounter hailstones:

• If you encounter hailstones reduce your speed, without braking if possible. Warn other drivers by using your hazard warning lights.
• Driving slowly in a high gear will help your tyres maintain grip even as your tyres move over the compacted pellets of ice.
• Accelerate and brake very gently and drive slowly on bends where loss of control is more likely. Avoid sudden steering movements or hard braking.
• Keep an eye out for road markings that may become obscured and leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front.

There is also a risk of sleet and snow in parts of the north and west of the country. Drivers in these conditions are advised to:

• Remove all snow from your vehicle before commencing your journey. Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision. It can also fall off during your drive and cause injury to pedestrians or a reflex action by another driver.
• In snow and icy conditions, slow down. Use all controls delicately and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.
• In snow or sleet conditions, visibility will be reduced. Do not drive on the taillights of the vehicle in front. In heavy snow, use your fog lights, turn off your radio and open your window, so you can hear other traffic, especially at junctions.

The changing weather conditions will also pose some challenges for pedestrians and cyclists. The advice for these road users in icy conditions is as follows.

• While walking on footpaths and in public places, or entering and exiting your car or truck, DO NOT underestimate the dangers of frost and ice.
• Each winter slips and fall accidents cause serious injuries. Even when surfaces do not look especially icy or slippery, it is very possible that a thin sheet of transparent ice or “Black Ice” is covering your pathway putting you at risk.
• Many slips and falls happen in places people regard as safe and secure, typically outside their front door on the doorstep, on the path or while getting out of the car.
• If you are out walking in icy conditions wear appropriate footwear.
• Visibility is reduced in hail, sleet, or snow so at night wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch and if you cycle make sure your bike is fitted with lights front and rear.

For advice on severe weather driving tips and weather updates, please see severe weather advice on or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages.

See advice on driving in our series of Severe Weather Warning videos created in collaboration with Teresa Mannion.

For more weather updates visit Met Eireann’s website here

Ends

With weather conditions expected to become much colder in the coming days, Met Éireann has issued a winter weather advisory for the whole country, with sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches on Roads.

During periods of cold weather, Waterford roads are gritted daily.  See  https://waterford-ie.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/33c4599cc76f469e9c14ef0fadca6e17

Driving with extreme caution is advised and if possible please avoid ungritted roads on your journey as there may be black ice on untreated roads.

Heavy rain on Tuesday night 18th, Wednesday 19th and Wednesday night with the possibility of thundery downpours, will lead to localised flooding.  Disruption is likely.

• Event: Orange Rain
• Severity: Orange
• Valid from: Tue. 18/10 @ 10PM
• Valid to: Thu. 20/10 @ 12AM
• Affected Areas: Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), is asking road users to exercise caution while using the roads as Met Eireann has issued a weather advisory for High Temperatures. Ireland will experience a hot spell developing from Wednesday and continuing through the rest of the week and the weekend. Daytime temperatures will widely reach the mid to high twenties and it will remain uncomfortably warm overnight too.

In High temperatures the RSA is advising road users, particularly drivers, to be aware of the dangers posed by ‘sun glare’. Sun glare can result in drivers being temporarily dazzled or blinded by the intensity and brightness of the sun.

With clear sunny conditions and high temperatures forecast over the next number of days, the RSA is advising drivers to:

– Reduce the risk from sun glare and of being dazzled by wearing sun glasses. Be aware of the dangers of sun glare when travelling east in the mornings and west later in the day.

– Be prepared and ensure you have adequate supplies of water, any delays to journeys could result in road users being stuck in traffic for a period time in hot conditions. Children and pets are particularly at risk during these hot spells of weather.

– Ensure your windscreen is clear of grease or grime inside and out. Make sure you have plenty of window washer fluid to clear flies/insects and excess dust from the road when driving.

– Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists. Slow down and allow extra space when passing.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to:

– Beware of the dangers that sun glare can cause, especially when crossing the road and at junctions.

– Follow current health messaging around the use of sun block when out walking and cycling.

The impact of high temperatures on roads means that road surface temperatures will rise significantly in the hot weather and surface dressed roads (“tar and chips”) will be prone to softening of the bitumen. This will lead to bitumen slicks occurring on more minor roads.  Road users are advised to slow down and exercise caution when braking in such situations.

For advice on severe weather driving tips, please see severe weather advice on the RSA website or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages.

Please also see our severe weather warning videos created in collaboration with Teresa Mannion here. See advice for driving in sun glare here.

Latest report  reports of localised flooding on the following roads, due to high intensity rainfall:

1550 hrs

• ORANGE level rain warning from Met Éireann.  Heavy falls of rain will continue with surface flooding and poor driving conditions.

1530 hrs

• Spot flooding reported on roads in Ballinacourty and Ballinroad, Co. Waterford. 
• Powers the Pot Road is impassable due to heavy snowfall

1450 hrs

• Flooding reported on Airport Road at Ballygarron, Co. Waterford.
• Snowfall accumulation from Ballymacarbry to Clonmel – The road is treated with salt and passable, extreme caution advised.
• Snowfall accumulation from Clonmel to Rathgormack – Currently being treated but please avoid if possible.
• Snow accumulation on local roads in Clonmel / Ballymacarbry / Rathgormack  – Should be avoided and drive with extreme care.
• Spot Flooding reported in Tramore at Lower Branch Road, Pickardstown, Riverdale Estate and Butlerstown.

Rainfall is expected to ease in the next hour so flooding is expected to recede later this afternoon.  However overnight temperatures are expected to drop to close to freezing, with snow and ice expected overnight.

Waterford City and County Council crews have been deployed to the various locations and are dealing with the situations on the ground.  Gritters and snow ploughs have been deployed to the Clonmel area.

1400 hrs

• Near JayBee’s on the R684 – Waterford to Dunmore East road.
• Near the Shrine on R685 – Tramore to Dunmore East Coast road.
• Cork Road at Morris’s Builder Providers – road is impassable, please avoid.
• Spot flooding at numerous locations – please drive with caution.

Waterford City and County Council ground crews currently investigating.     

Weather advisories and updates/disruptions to services, roads, trees etc. will be posted here as we are made aware of them.  Please call 0818 10 20 20 or email contact@waterfordcouncil.ie to report damage/flooding/debris etc.

8.30am:

Tree fallen at L7084 Tikincor. Road impassable.