Barra-caded!

Storm Barra has arrived, is with us and will remain with us for a while longer.

Our area has an Orange-level weather warning in operation – very strong winds, heavy rain, probable flooding, some damage etc – and has lived up to the forecast so far today. I was woken around six this morning by rain pelting against the window and these conditions are likely to continue until tomorrow morning.

The road outside the house has escaped flooding

Thankfully, as I write, there has been no damage to the house and only minor damage in the garden – one small tree down, Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’, and some small branches scattered about but nothing hugely significant. In contrast, a relatively large tree fell across the road nearby and as it lay on the electricity wires the repair engineers were called to remove it. For their safety they disconnected the supply but we were without electricity for only an hour, so a very small inconvenience. I must comment that the electricity workers deserve great praise and thanks for their work. They were out in what were certainly very difficult conditions, especially for the man who was raised on the cherry picker to the top of the electricity pole to make the necessary repairs. On such a windy day this was not the place for the faint-hearted.

Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’, a victim of the strong winds of Storm Barra.

A tree blocking our road. You may notice the legs of the workers beneath the trunk as they work to clear it and also the engineer on the pole behind, reconnecting the supply.

Our view to the river changed with the high tide this morning. It was an especially high tide, one of the seasonal spring tides, and when driven by the following strong winds it broke the banks and flooded the field – the mash – between us and the river. It will drain away again via a sluice gate as the tide drops though it may take a few days to empty completely. Thankfully, it came no further than the mash and our road remained clear so travel was possible though we have no need nor desire to do so.

Looking down the garden to the mash and river beyond and views of the mash under water.

We will settle down for the rest of the day; hope the electricity supply isn’t disrupted further and that we will be able to cook the dinner later this evening. If any of you are living under the influence of Storm Barra I hope that you are safe and well and that the sun shines on us all tomorrow!

Views across the flooded fields to Grannagh Castle on the other side of the river.

And, finally, a view along the river to the old Red Iron Bridge – a now disused railway bridge.

A parting thought: As I was returning from taking this last photograph, which was taken from beneath the new bridge near our house, I met two women heading out to the same viewpoint, both dressed for the dreadful weather and carrying binoculars. They were going to survey the riverbank in hopes of spotting the body of a local man who has been missing for the last three weeks. We have small troubles in comparison.