This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

University of Galway research has highlighted that many areas ‘narrowly’ escaped severe flooding during Storm Éowyn.

Its extensive data shows that tens of thousands of people avoided tidal inundation and threats to cities due to lucky timing.

The worst of the storm surge coincided with a low and ebbing tide, which research shows saved areas like Galway from a ‘double disaster’ of record high winds and flooding.

Speaking to Galway Talks, Dr Indiana Olbert says the impact would have been a lot worse had the storm happened a week earlier during high tide