City is put on flood alert as high tides, heavy rain and strong winds are promised

BY FRANK FARRAGHER

A flood alert has been issued by the City Council for this weekend to residents and business proprietors in the Fishmarket, Spanish Arch, Quay Street and Flood Street areas.

The warning has been prompted by a combination of high tides, strong winds and heavy rain as the city prepares for its worst weather buffeting of the season.

High Spring Tides will peak in the city from Friday through to Tuesday – however the flood risk is significantly increased by the low pressure system hovering over Galway through the weekend.

Based on Met Eireann and BBC weather predictions for Galway, it seems likely that the high risk flooding periods will be this afternoon/evening and from Sunday afternoon through to Monday morning.

Crews from the City Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Unit will be on call over the weekend, while through today, sandbags are being provided to residents and businesses in the high risk category.

The City Council have also installed a safety barrier along the edge of the quay at Fishmarket and the Spanish Arch, which will stay in place until Tuesday next when Spring Tides ease.

“This is our first high risk weekend of the season and many of the residents and businesses along the vulnerable areas have their own protective measures ready to be put in place,” said a spokesman for the City Council.

The Spring Tides – an all-year round term used to describe very high water levels when the earth, sun and moon are aligned – will be over the ’17 foot’ mark right through the weekend.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.