High winds hit Wrexham from tail end of Hurricane Ophelia

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area

This article is old - Published: Monday, Oct 16th, 2017

After a breezy day the winds have started to pick up in the late afternoon, with a peak expected between 6pm-10pm.

As of 4pm some mild storm damage had already been reported, with bins being blown into roads and some smaller branches being lost from trees.

Update 8:45pm: Wrapping up the live updates on this page with no new incidents reported in the last hour, and wind dropping as the tail of the storm heads north.

Update 7:35pm Thankfully all quiet on the incidents front, and good news that the power cut from earlier has been sorted out.

We are still under a yellow weather warning until 11pm with 50mph gusts still possible outside – so take care if going outside!

Update 7:10pm: Busy evening for the emergency services across the region. North Wales Police dealing with a high volume of calls.

Our Control Room extremely busy – over 60 ‘active’ road disruptions due to the weather. Trees/Telegraph poles and damaged properties

— North Wales Police (@NWPolice) October 16, 2017

Update 7pm: Bit of a change to the initial forecast, Met Office website now stating gusts will reach 58mph over the next hour or so!

Update 6:20pm We have been told of a power outage near Ruabon. SP Energy say it is and “unexpected fault affecting a number of customers over a wide area” and expect supplies back by 8pm.

Update 6pm: It appears that the rush hour has not been overly affected by the start of the wind, but there has been some back roads blocked by debris and fallen trees.

@Wrexham, also tree down in Kinnerton blocking the road both ways pic.twitter.com/qYQO9ihI7z

— Becca Davies (@Boo92Bec) October 16, 2017

We have been sent a copy of this picture from Drew showing a window in Top Shop in Eagles Meadow that has ‘popped’ earlier.

Another picture sent in by Rachael saying “Our neighbours garage roof in our garden!”

There has been some more light hearted tweets as well…

@wrexham Ophelia hits Rhosnesni hard #binaggedon2k17 pic.twitter.com/2VzLDogzcf

— Iestyn Williams (@iesty83) October 16, 2017

Update 5:45pm – Gusty: Winds starting to pick up again in Wrexham. Met Office say gusts will reach a peak of 50mph at around 8pm before slowly reducing throughout the evening.

So take care if heading out tonight!

Update 5:30pm: Several reports of fallen branches across Wrexham coming in, with Simon telling us: “Low lying branches as you head to Eyton from The Plassy, almost smashed my window! Not small ones either.”

@wrexham @wrexhamcbc branches down at coed aben and blowing on road pic.twitter.com/TKRXNA4uDd

— sarah jones (@sarahjoneswxm) October 16, 2017

The path by Maesgwyn playing fields is blocked @PhillipWynn2 @wrexham @wrexhamcbc pic.twitter.com/s6khRIV0jc

— Roo 🏃RTL (@lesroostah) October 16, 2017

Update 5:15pm: Welsh Ambulance Service have confirmed one woman has been injured in the Wrexham area.

A spokesperson said: “We were called at approximately 4.15pm this afternoon to reports a woman had been struck by a falling branch on Chester Road, Wrexham.

“A paramedic in a rapid response vehicle and a crew in an emergency ambulance are currently at the scene.”

The first major example of damage was the below sent to us by Andy, of a large tree down on the Coleg Cambria campus in the town centre. The tree is close to the music mobile unit near to the Library car park, and we are told no one has been injured thankfully.

Other damage & info is starting to filter in:

Nicki has sent us this picture, saying: “Tree down blocking road on back roads from holt to rossett/gresford”

Batten down the hatches, it’s getting meaner… nearly took your intrepid photographer off his feet… 47mph gust @wrexham pic.twitter.com/vsWf8obWLK

— Dickens Vauxhall (@DickensVauxhall) October 16, 2017