PARTS OF Galway were left severely flooded last night as Storm Elsa gave the West an unanticipated battering.
A Yellow Weather warning for both wind and rain had been issued for several counties across the country yesterday, but many were taken by surprise by the sheer scale and power of the storm, with some blaming Met Eireann for a lack of warning regarding the severity of the weather.
If your car is in Salthill car park, get it out now!!! It's WILD out there. On RTE weather forecast, they only mentioned "strong winds"! @GalwayLatinQtr @NUIGSU @CTribune pic.twitter.com/pPaJ1Mq5Z6
— PictureDiaryGalway (@PicDiaryGalway) December 18, 2019
The weather service had upgraded the weather warning to Status Orange for Galway and Mayo, with the warning due to come into effect at 9pm-- but this was only announced at 8.46pm, and according to citizens of the western counties the weather had been "violent" for some time at that point.
Bit late lads it's been mental here the last hr in galway city far worse than anything all year!!🙄🙄
— esther lohan (@essielo) December 18, 2019
Torrential downpours in Dublin, in the East of the country, left the River Liffey dangeorusly swollen, but the rain abated before any flooding occurred.
Feck sake, Dublin pic.twitter.com/zp6X4pKuD9
— Adrian Weckler (@adrianweckler) December 18, 2019
#liffey looking high tonight #StormElsa pic.twitter.com/QbjO9g8ZxO
— Mark Kelly (@MarkKelly41) December 18, 2019
The West of the country, particularly Galway and Mayo were the worst affected, with parts of Salthill almost completely submerged.
#Galway #salthill it's getting serious pic.twitter.com/LawGF673tS
— Sophia Hadef (@soelvyra) December 18, 2019
J*sus, it got even worse after that (after the last video I posted). Poor people coming out of the cinema to discover their cars in flooded car park. #StormElsa #Salthill #Galway @endacunningham @declanvarley @deric_tv @villagesalthill pic.twitter.com/EOMyQUljBe
— PictureDiaryGalway (@PicDiaryGalway) December 18, 2019
In Mayo and Galway, several roads were blocked as a result of fallen trees.
The following roads are currently blocked in Co Mayo. The N5 is closed between Charlestown & Carracastle. The N17 is partially blocked between Knock & Kilkelly exits due to fallen trees. The Shrule to Kilmaine Rd is closed 1 mile outside Shrule due to a fallen tree.#StormElsa 1/2
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) December 18, 2019
Roads are blocked. The winds are terrible here in Galway. Seriously not safe out there. How is this not a red warning? #StormElsa #Galway #Weather @MetEireann pic.twitter.com/Qd6xFReAaD
— Ivan Seery (@IvanSeery) December 18, 2019
But the morning brought calm and clear blue skies, and the people of Galway in particular are ready to get back to normal, as small businesses prepare for Christmas shoppers and NUIG students prepare for Christmas exams.
PLEASE RT: On a challenging night for #Salthill it’s really important to convey the message that we are open for business! #ShopLocal #ChristmasShopping #StormElsa pic.twitter.com/6TFjo5shGF
— Mayor Cllr. Clodagh Higgins (@CloHiggins) December 19, 2019
Second last day of #NUIGalway exams and it’s looking good post #StormElsa
Keep going #YouGotThis and are nearly out the gap 💪🎄🎅 pic.twitter.com/HAnU7sPBgk— Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh (@NUIGSU) December 19, 2019
And throughout it all, people kept their sense of humour.
I hear they'll be impeaching Met Eireann next, Father
#StormElsa #MetEireann #Salthill pic.twitter.com/1UQXvxTsH3— DaBearsDimints (@DaBearsDimints) December 19, 2019
See More: Galway, Mayo, Salthill, Storm Elsa, Weather, Weather Warning
