Storm Boelo caused widespread flooding and travel disruption across South Wales on Sunday morning, with the River Ely bursting its banks and leaving hundreds of homes without power. The worst-affected area was the village of St Fagans on the outskirts of Cardiff, where 834 homes were left without electricity for several hours.
Flooding Hits St Fagans and Surrounding Areas
On October 25, the River Ely burst its banks in St Fagans, Peterston-Super-Ely, and at Ely Bridge in Cardiff. Vehicles were submerged in floodwater, roads became impassable, and the nearby railway line was underwater, impacting train services between Cardiff and Bridgend/Swansea. Due to the flooding, St Fagans museum was only accessible via the A4232.
Continuous heavy downpours on Saturday and during the night caused the river level to become too high, despite the rain largely holding off on Sunday. Natural Resources Wales issued four flood warnings for areas surrounding the 24-mile-long river.
Strong Winds and Fallen Trees
Although heavy rain has subsided for the time being, strong winds from Storm Boelo continued to batter Wales on Sunday. Since Friday, more than 40 trees have fallen across Cardiff. Teams from Cardiff Council have been working throughout the night to clear the obstructions and hazards as quickly as possible. Due to the number of impacted areas, the council said it is working to remove fallen trees on a "priority basis".
Storm Boelo brought torrential rain for almost the entirety of Saturday, October 24, contributing to the flooding that left over 800 homes around St Fagans without power and caused extensive damage to roads, fields, and infrastructure in the area.
