Storm Brian batters Wales with 78mph winds and huge waves
STORM Brian battered Wales at the weekend as rain and winds up to 78mph shut roads, wrecked a building and delayed trains in many parts of the country.
The worst of the waves hit the west coast on Saturday around Aberystwyth and Aberaeron, as they smashed into sea walls and onto roads and promenades.
Waves ripped the doors off the harbourmaster’s office at Tenby, where the RNLI crew launched just after 9.30am to reports of a person in difficulty at Skrinkle, despite the wind being at storm force 10, which is between 55mph and 63mph.
The crew was later stood down after the “casualty” was located and found to be safe.
In Abersoch, the RNLI was called out to rescue a foolhardy windsurfer – prompting a furious backlash on social media.
Gusts of 78mph were recorded at Capel Curig and Aberaeron, while the wind peaked at 75mph at Mumbles and a top wind speed of 66mph was recorded at Porthcawl.
The M4 was closed for several hours at Briton Ferry, between junctions 41 and 42, causing disruption on surrounding roads. The old Severn Bridge was also closed for most of the day because of the high winds.
In Pembrokeshire, the A477 Cleddau Bridge was partially closed, while the A55 Britannia Bridge between Anglesey and the mainland was closed to high-sided vehicles.
In coastal communities around Wales, huge waves battered seafronts, promenades and sea walls.
Storm Brian was the result of a “weather bomb” of low pressure in the Atlantic Ocean.
As well as others parts of the UK, strong winds also hit southern and south-western parts of Ireland on Saturday morning – just a week after being hit by the aftermath of Hurricane Ophelia.
In Cardiff, a busy road was shut when a mature oak tree blew down.
The city council said that it was likely to be more than five hours before they were able to reopen the road, as they would need a crane to lift the tree. South Wales Police advised the public to take alternative routes.
Western Power Distribution also reported a number of power cuts across the country, with as many as 200 homes without power at different points, with Newport and Caerphilly worst affected.
By mid-morning dozens of train services faced delays, as debris blocked railways lines. Many more were later cancelled altogether on Arriva Trains Wales and Great Western Railway.
Elsewhere, a train struck a tree near Cross Keys, Caerphilly county, but no injuries were reported. The line to Ebbw Vale also closed after a tree became jammed underneath the train.
There were also initially seven flood warnings and nine flood alerts in place, largely on the south and west coasts, however this number was reduced after high tide.
In north Wales, volunteers on Beaumaris lifeboat risked their lives by braving gale force winds to deal with a hoax call.
Reports of two red rocket flares being sighted sparked an alert and led to volunteers on the Beaumaris Lifeboat being tasked to scour the area in treacherous conditions.
The crew searched the Menai Straits between the Menai Bridge and Beaumaris, struggling with poor visibility, along with winds gusting force six and seven – only to discover the flares were actually coming from Llandegfan and not from at sea, following information from Bangor Mobile Coastguard Rescue Service.
Community Safety Partner for the RNLI Steve Instance said: “The large swell will mean that areas normally accessible at low tide may be cut off by storm surges.
“Sea walls and harbour areas may become inundated with surface flooding and large waves.”
South Wales Police also issued a warning about “horrendous driving conditions”, as sports and other indoor and outdoor activities were called off, thanks to the dangers posed by the storms.
The worst of Storm Brian was over by yesterday, but the after-effects were still visible across Wales, with several flood alerts still in place.