HOUSEHOLDERS and commuters across large swathes of Galway have been advised to exercise extreme caution over the coming days as the county comes under increasing pressure from the most prolonged and intense flood event since records began.
Many roads are now impassable in the South Galway area and with heavy rains again predicted over the weekend and into next week – in the wake of Storm Frank on Tuesday – all the indications are that water levels will continue to rise.
PRESS PLAY TO WATCH THE FLOODING VIDEO FROM BALLINSTAGUE, GORT
By Wednesday morning of this week, Abbeyknockmoy weather recorder Brendan Geraghty had a reading of over twelve inches (305mms) for the month of December – already 2015 is the wettest year since his records began in the mid-1960s.
“Even at this stage, it’s the wettest year since my records began but December has really put the tin-hat on it with over twelve inches of rain so far and that on top of over eight inches (203mms.) in November.
“This is just a scale of rainfall that the land, rivers, lakes and streams cannot absorb. We just have a saturated landscape everywhere. There just has been no respite since early November,” said Brendan Geraghty.
This week, Galway County Council advised that all road users should avoid coastal routes and especially along the R336 road between Leenane and Galway city during stormy periods.
“Essential travel only is advised. Road users are requested to exercise extreme caution and to obey signage regarding flooded roads. Do not drive into any flood unless you can confirm that it is safe to do so,” the County Council have advised.
The N18 old Galway to Ennis Road remains closed at Labane and the Council have also advised that many local roads in South Galway are now impassable, many of them in the Peterswell, Skehanagh, Kilternan, Tierneevin and Ballynasteigue areas.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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