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Wales weather: Residents hope for power after 109mph storms Wales weather: Power restored after 109mph storms
(about 3 hours later)
Engineers have been working to restore power to the last remaining homes in north Wales still cut off following the Boxing Day gales. Power has been restored to all homes and businesses in north Wales which suffered cuts in supply following the Boxing Day gales.
With Anglesey and Gwynedd hardest hit, ScottishPower had reconnected more than 20,000 properties by Saturday evening.With Anglesey and Gwynedd hardest hit, ScottishPower had reconnected more than 20,000 properties by Saturday evening.
The company said a "very small pocket" of properties remained without power at 12:30 GMT on Sunday, but added they would be reconnected during the day. A "very small pocket" of properties which remained cut off on Sunday had power restored by late afternoon.
Meanwhile the Met Office has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain on Monday. Meanwhile the Met Office has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain heading for Wales on Monday.
A flood warning for the Lower Dee Valley was lifted on Sunday, leaving one flood alert in place for rivers in south Pembrokeshire as of 13:30 GMT on Sunday. Natural Resources Wales warned people to be watch out for localised flooding on Monday, although on Sunday evening only one flood alert was in place, for rivers in south Pembrokeshire.
Road problemsRoad problems
The high winds had caused a string of incidents of structural damage, including slates falling into the Maes in Caernarfon and in Bangor High Street.The high winds had caused a string of incidents of structural damage, including slates falling into the Maes in Caernarfon and in Bangor High Street.
In south west Wales fire crews had been called out to a number of towns in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to deal with falling slates and chimney stacks.In south west Wales fire crews had been called out to a number of towns in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to deal with falling slates and chimney stacks.
Council workers across Wales spent much of Friday and Saturday clearing fallen trees from roads.Council workers across Wales spent much of Friday and Saturday clearing fallen trees from roads.
In Gwynedd, the B4573 was still closed in both directions between Harlech and Tygwyn on Sunday because of a fallen tree and power cables but there were no other major travel disruptions in the county.In Gwynedd, the B4573 was still closed in both directions between Harlech and Tygwyn on Sunday because of a fallen tree and power cables but there were no other major travel disruptions in the county.
Ice on the roads was a problem in south Wales on Sunday morning, with fire crews dealing with a number of minor collisions.Ice on the roads was a problem in south Wales on Sunday morning, with fire crews dealing with a number of minor collisions.
Arriva Trains Wales had a replacement bus operating between Harlech and Pwllheli after river bridge was damaged at Llandecwyn.Arriva Trains Wales had a replacement bus operating between Harlech and Pwllheli after river bridge was damaged at Llandecwyn.
ScottishPower said it was working to reconnect homes and businesses which had lost power during the gales, cancelling all non-essential maintenance work and bringing in extra contractors. On Sunday afternoon the electricity supplier ScottishPower said it had restored power to all customers affected by cuts due to high winds bringing down cables.
The company has reconnected more than 20,000 homes across north and mid Wales since the storm hit. A spokesman said: "ScottishPower have made good progress to reconnect the last remaining customers who lost electricity supplies during the storm force weather on Friday in north Wales.
Gareth Roberts, a Gwynedd councillor in Aberdaron, said "quite a few" electricity poles had been blown down. "All customers have now been reconnected.
He added: "People that have seen the poles have said they look very rotten inside. "ScottishPower engineers worked in extreme conditions to reconnect supplies as quickly as possible.
"They look fine from the outside, but on the inside they're mush apparently. Maybe there are questions to ask over whether this could have been avoided with a better replacement policy." "ScottishPower would like to thank everyone affected for their patience during this period."
Mr Roberts said most properties had been reconnected by Saturday and a few farms in more remote areas were due to have power restored by lunch time on Sunday. Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula had been one of the worst affected places.
He added: "Overall, it could have been a lot worse. We're used to electricity cuts around here - it's not unusual because we are so exposed. Gareth Roberts, a Gwynedd county councillor for the area, said: "Overall, it could have been a lot worse.
"We're used to electricity cuts around here - it's not unusual because we are so exposed.
"A day without electricity is no real hardship, but when you go into two or three days, and it starts to affect peoples' freezers and so on, it becomes a bit tedious."A day without electricity is no real hardship, but when you go into two or three days, and it starts to affect peoples' freezers and so on, it becomes a bit tedious.
"I think people have realised that the emergency workers are working flat out to get things sorted."I think people have realised that the emergency workers are working flat out to get things sorted.
"You have to take your hat off to people who go out in that kind of weather to get the power back on.""You have to take your hat off to people who go out in that kind of weather to get the power back on."
In response to claims about the condition of its poles, ScottishPower said it carried out "regular inspections on our network and have a ongoing investment programme to make sure our network is in good condition". As residents saw electricity supplies restored, the Met Office issued a yellow alert ahead of heavy rain and wind on Monday, with Wales, south west England and Scotland predicted to be the worst affected areas of the UK.
Meanwhile the Met Office has issued a yellow alert ahead of heavy rain and wind on Monday, with Wales, south west England and Scotland predicted to be the worst affected areas of the UK.
Heavy rain is expected to spread across south Wales and south west England on Sunday night into Monday morning.Heavy rain is expected to spread across south Wales and south west England on Sunday night into Monday morning.
Winds of 60 to 70mph are likely in Wales, and up to 80mph in exposed parts of west Wales.Winds of 60 to 70mph are likely in Wales, and up to 80mph in exposed parts of west Wales.
"With ground already saturated over much of this region, the public should be aware of the risk of further local flooding," the Met Office said."With ground already saturated over much of this region, the public should be aware of the risk of further local flooding," the Met Office said.
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