Amber flood warning for Ramsey and Douglas harbours as Storm Boelo hits

Ronaldsway Met Office has put out an amber warning for inner harbour flooding tonight (Saturday 24 October), as a surge driven by the storm in the Irish Sea is forecast to arrive with the high tide at about 23:00. 3FM reported that the warning is in force from 21:30 until 00:30.

Manx Radio and Energy FM both said the greatest risk lies in Ramsey and Douglas. In Ramsey, the exposed locations are West Quay and East Quay, Parliament Street, Dale Street and Shipyard Road, along with the River Sulby embankments reaching Gardener’s Lane. In Douglas, the Tongue area is affected.

Barriers are also due to go up to protect the lowest ground around Castletown Harbour, which is under a yellow warning.

Four warnings in force

3FM said the harbour alert is the fourth warning issued for the weekend. The other three are:

• Amber, severe gales: running from 18:00 on Saturday until 15:00 on Sunday, with winds of gale to severe gale force, reaching up to 70mph, forecast for Saturday evening and through the night, according to Manx Radio.
• Amber, coastal overtopping: centred on the high tides on Saturday night (about 23:00) and Sunday morning (about 10:30). Energy FM reported that waves are expected to break significantly over coastal roads and promenades for roughly two hours either side of each high tide. The same station named Peel’s Fenella Beach, the Castletown stretch of Shore Road in Rushen, and Castletown promenade as the most exposed spots.
• Yellow, heavy rain: from 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturday, with 20–30mm forecast across an eight-hour spell, according to Manx Radio.

The start time given for the overtopping warning varies between outlets. Energy FM says it begins at 21:00 on Saturday and ends at 12:30 on Sunday, while 3FM gives 21:30 to 12:30.

Sandbags and disruption

Manx Radio reported that the Department of Infrastructure has left stocks of sandbags in Ramsey (East Quay/Market Square), Laxey (the promenade and the department’s yard on Glen Road), Douglas, Castletown and Peel. In Douglas they are at North Quay, Bridge Road, Lake Road, Strathallan Road and the Civil Defence HQ on Tromode Road.

In its morning update, Manx Radio said every remaining flight today had been cancelled except the Gatwick service in and out of Ronaldsway. The morning Heysham crossing left earlier than scheduled, and the afternoon return to Douglas was due to depart at 12:30. The 19:30 Douglas to Heysham sailing was expected to run as planned, but Manx Radio said all other sailings today were cancelled, as were most of those on Sunday.

3FM reported that police have shut part of the Mountain Road for the remainder of today.

At the time of its morning update, Manx Radio said buses were running and roads were “all ok”. Curraghs Wildlife Park is shut for the whole weekend, and the St Paul’s car boot sale in Ramsey has been called off. The Eastern Civic Amenity Site is closed, and the Western site will remain closed for the rest of the weekend.

Energy FM said pitch conditions have forced the postponement of all Canada Life Premier League and Combi One fixtures, several Ardern & Druggan Division 2 matches and two Combi Two games. Manx Radio said hockey matches at Peel and Castletown will not go ahead.