Advice during Storm Darragh - Saturday night update

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for the public, covering Rhondda Cynon Taf. Please read all Storm Darragh information carefully.

Rain is expected to begin mid-afternoon (Friday) and intensify. A more sustained band of rain is forecast to arrive from around 3am (Saturday morning) with potentially significant rainfall during the AMBER period.

In addition to the heavy rainfall, there is a serious risk of high winds. Winds are expected to come from an unusual direction which increases the potential for disruption and increased risk of trees falling, so please take extra care. Neighbouring areas are covered by a Red warning for wind, with the potential for very strong gusts.

Current weather forecast

YELLOW WARNING: RAIN 18:00 SATURDAY ONWARDS

AMBER WARNING: WIND 01:00-21:00 SATURDAY

YELLOW WARNING: WIND 21:00 SATURDAY – 18:00 SUNDAY

Substantial amounts of rainfall combined with already saturated conditions are expected to cause challenges across the area.

What we have done and what we are doing

We understand public concern and we are proactively deploying sandbags to areas at highest risk that were previously flooded in Storm Bert. Crews are currently deployed delivering these. Crews will be working throughout the period, overnight and across the weekend, to respond to emergencies.

Our emergency control room will be manned throughout the period, and CCTV cameras and alarms on culverts will be monitored.

Additional crews, alongside contractors will be working throughout the period to respond to emergencies. Additional equipment has been brought in to support, such as JCBs to clear debris from culverts and fallen trees.

Since Storm Bert, all of our gulley cleaners and jetting units have worked extended hours to clear drains, and crews have removed hundreds of tonnes of debris which washed off the mountainsides into culverts.

Rivers

Natural Resources Wales have increased the flood risk level for Rhondda Cynon Taf to MEDIUM for Saturday and Sunday, meaning flooded is expected. More information can be found here.

You can sign up to receive Flood Warnings from Natural Resources Wales here.

Reporting to the Council

If there is a threat to life always call 999.

To report emergencies to the Council, call 01443 425011. If you have concerns but there is no risk to people or properties, please report using online forms:

Report fallen trees or obstructions here
Report blocked drains or culverts here

Please do not contact us on social media in an emergency.

Safety advice

Properties and businesses with flood defences should check their equipment and install as required, or be ready to deploy if needed.

Properties that have previously flooded or at known risk of flooding should be prepared. Find more information on preparing for a flood here.

Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. There will be difficult driving conditions from wind and rain, surface water flooding should be expected on roads, and high winds will likely cause some trees to fall.

Please call any issues through to 01443 425011. If there is a threat to life always call 999.