Ireland – Homes Evacuated After Floods in Galway

by in Europe, News

Homes were evacuated after flash floods in County Galway, western Ireland on 02 September 2020.

The flooding came after heavy overnight rainfall caused the Owenglin River to break its banks, flooding areas of the town of Clifden. Local observers said the speed at which the flooding occurred was unprecedented.

Fire Service personnel evacuated a number of people from approximately 17 properties in Clifden. Several roads in the areas were closed.

Police said: “Gardaí and emergency services are on hand in Clifden, Co. Galway, where flooding from the Owenglin river has caused temporary closure of parts of Clifden town. Motorists are advised to avoid Clifden Town and to use alternative routes if travelling to Roundstone and Ballyconneely.”

In a statement of 02 September, Galway County Council said:

“Met Eireann issued a Status Yellow Rainfall Warning for Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal on the 1st September 2020. The warning did not extend to Galway, however the weather system pushed south into the Galway resulting in a period of high Intensity Rainfall in the Conemara Area  from  10pm last night to 8am this morning where up to 50mm of rainfall was recorded. This resulted in a surge in rivers causing a series of flooding events on roads in the Connemara Area with the town of Clifden significantly impacted by heavy flooding from the Owenglin River.”

The weather station at Connemara National Park, located in near Letterfrack around 8km north east of Clifden, recorded 60mm of rain in a few hours early on 02 September.

Rainfall in early September 2020 measured at the Connemara National Park weather station near Letterfrack, Galway. Image / data: Met Eireann

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