The devastation unleashed on Wales by Storm Francis

Storm Francis made its mark on Tuesday as it battered Wales with 70mph winds and torrential rain.

Homes and businesses were flooded and railway lines and roads were blocked by fallen trees across the country.

The Met Office upgraded its yellow warning for wind to amber on Tuesday as the storm swept across the UK from Ireland throughout the day.

Many parts of Wales were badly affected.

In the Neath area residents felt the full force of the gales and torrential downpours as homes and businesses were flooded, roads were closed and cars submerged in water.

Flood water affected Redbook Accounting in Victoria Gardens, Neath

Cars submerged in water in Old Road, Skewen

A resident helps to clean up the flood water from the roads

On Tuesday morning, the train line between Mountain Ash and Aberdare was flooded and Transport for Wales warned of delays for much of the morning.

While a fallen tree on the main railway line between Swansea and Llanelli caused chaos on the network later in the day, closing the line for several hours and diverting people to a replacement bus service.

Flooding on the line on Tuesday

Bridges were closed or speed limits reduced as high winds made driving conditions dangerous.

The M48 Severn Bridge was closed and traffic diverted to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge and a 20mph limit was put in force on the M4 Bridge in Briton Ferry.

There was also flooding at Gwydir Castle in North Wales:

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A post from the grade I listed castle said: “Like so many others, we’re being battered by floods and high winds tonight. We’ve had floods before in August but not like this. The ferocity of the water is frightening.”

Elsewhere 30 people were rescued from a campsite in Pembrokeshire, with one man needing medical aid. Twelve caravans were towed to safety at the campsite in Wiseman’s Bridge during a two-and-a-half hour rescue operation. 

Wiseman’s Bridge Inn, which owns the campsite, confirmed its campsite was now underwater

The water inundated the riverside campsite

In Cardiff, multiple reports of fallen trees kept the council and emergency services busy trying to clear roads as the high winds continued.

The roof of a well-known Indian restaurant near to Roath Park Lake was damaged when a tree collapsed on to it.

Reports suggest that a second tree may have fallen onto the building later on Tuesday causing further damage.

The story was repeated all over the city with more blockages caused by fallen trees in other areas of Cardiff.

South Wales Police were called to reports of a bus shelter in Whitchurch being damaged by a fallen tree.

Video and pictures showed that the glass of the shelter was smashed as a result of the heavy impact.

A fallen tree damaged the shelter during Storm Francis

Elsewhere in Cardiff, a city centre lane was closed on Tuesday evening because of roof tiles being dislodged by high winds.

Church Street near to Principality Stadium was shut and a number of business were forced to close as the tiles were blown off their roofs.   

Church Street was closed during Storm Francis

And in Cardiff Bay, a recently-refurbished restaurant, The Deck, suffered damage when high winds ripped parts of its roof off.

The restaurant was gutted by fire on Friday, August 21, when staff and customers were evacuated as smoke drifted over Penarth Marina.

The causes of the fire are unknown but the owners of the restaurant said they were “devastated” after the fire, which happened only weeks after they re-opened following the coronavirus lockdown.

The Deck lost part of its roof during Storm Francis


High winds and rain from Storm Francis are expected to continue into the early hours of Wednesday, August 26.

A Met Office yellow weather alert continues until 9am tomorrow morning.

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