River Ely Flooding Forces Cardiff Road Closures and Rail Disruption 2026

Key Points

• The River Ely flooded homes in Cardiff on Sunday morning, 25 October 2026, flooding roads, railroads and locations around St Fagans and Ely Bridge.
• Police set up barriers on Ely Bridge located on Cowbridge Road West at about 5am since the water levels had risen to levels close to homes and businesses.
• Flood warnings for the River Ely were issued by Natural Resources Wales for Ely Bridge, St Fagans, Talbot Green and Peterston-super-Ely.
• The Cowbridge Road in Ely was closed due to high water levels and was reopened at 12:00, as stated by Cardiff Council.
• Michaelston Road to Castle Hill Court was closed in both directions.
• The rail was disrupted as per the report from Transport for Wales since flooding occurred between Cardiff Central and Bridgend and flooding between Bridgend and Maesteg.
• The St Fagans National Museum of History was still open but visitors were advised to take the A4232 route as others were flooded.
• About 834 homes in St Fagans and the nearby areas experienced power cuts for some hours on Sunday morning.
• This was caused by heavy showers that occurred on Saturday night and early in the morning on Sunday when the area experienced storms Austen and Boelo.

Cardiff (Wales Times) October 25, 2026 — The River uk/local/cardiff/ely/">Ely burst its banks near homes in Cardiff on Sunday morning, flooding roads, railway tracks and areas around St Fagans and Ely Bridge, as Storm Boelo brought further disruption across Wales.

As reported by WalesOnline, police cordoned off Ely Bridge on Cowbridge Road West at about 5am after water rose close to homes and businesses. The closure formed part of a wider response to flooding along the river, which affected low-lying roads and land in western Cardiff and nearby communities.

Natural Resources Wales had issued four flood warnings for the River Ely by 09:20 on Sunday. The warnings covered the river at Ely Bridge, St Fagans, Talbot Green and Peterston-super-Ely. Flood warnings are issued when flooding is expected and immediate action may be needed.

Why did the River Ely flood?

The flooding followed persistent heavy showers on Saturday and overnight, despite relatively light rainfall in Cardiff on Sunday itself. As reported by WalesOnline, the sustained rain caused river levels to rise dangerously, leading the River Ely to overflow near homes in St Fagans and Ely.

The Met Office had a yellow weather warning for rain in place from 11am on Saturday, warning of flooding on roads, disruption to public transport and possible power cuts. Bute Park in Cardiff recorded 2.2 inches (55.2mm) of rain during Saturday, according to figures reported by the BBC.

Storm Boelo arrived after Storm Austen had already affected Wales over the weekend. The BBC reported that authorities, including police and local councils, were dealing with flooding and fallen trees as the second storm moved through the country.

Which Cardiff roads were closed?

Cowbridge Road in Ely was closed because of high water levels, but Cardiff council said it reopened at 12:00 on Sunday. Ely Bridge, which crosses the River Ely on Cowbridge Road West, had been cordoned off by police earlier in the morning.

As reported by WalesOnline, Michaelston Road leading to Castle Hill Court was also closed in both directions. The closures caused disruption for residents and drivers, while emergency services and council teams responded to flooding incidents along the river.

Natural Resources Wales advised people in flood-warning areas to move family members, pets and valuables to safety and to put flood protection in place where it was safe to do so. The agency also warned that people might need to leave their homes if it was safe to do so.

How did the flooding affect St Fagans?

St Fagans, on the western edge of Cardiff beside the River Ely, experienced some of the most serious flooding. As reported by WalesOnline, floodwater submerged vehicles, made roads impassable and inundated the nearby railway line.

The BBC reported that St Fagans village had been placed under a flood warning by Natural Resources Wales earlier in the day. The warning was later lifted, but the river had already burst its banks and caused severe flooding in the village.

St Fagans National Museum of History remained open, but the museum told visitors to arrive via the A4232 because flooding had made other entrance points inaccessible. The BBC reported that the museum continued to operate while directing visitors away from the affected routes.

Were homes left without power?

Yes. As reported by WalesOnline, 834 homes in St Fagans and the surrounding area were without power for several hours on Sunday morning. The outages added to the disruption caused by flooded roads and rail services.

Across Wales, the BBC reported that hundreds of homes were without electricity on Sunday morning after consecutive storms brought flooding and fallen trees. It said 555 homes in Rhayader, Powys, lost power, while about 100 homes in southern Wales were also affected.

The National Grid said technicians were working to restore electricity to affected homes “as swiftly as possible” and apologised for the inconvenience. SP Energy Networks said it was managing 14 power failures in northern and mid Wales.

How was rail travel affected?

Flooding disrupted rail services in south Wales, including routes connected to Cardiff. Transport for Wales said services between Cardiff Central and Pontyclun could be delayed by up to 45 minutes because heavy rain had flooded the railway.

The BBC reported that some services could be cancelled in both directions between Cardiff Central and Bridgend. Transport for Wales said disruption was expected to last until 12:00 GMT, although later reporting indicated the disruption could continue until 1pm.

A Transport for Wales spokesperson told the BBC that incidents included blockages on the line between Cardiff Central and Bridgend, as well as flooding affecting the railway between Bridgend and Maesteg. Several train services were replaced by buses because of flooding and adverse weather.

What flood warnings were in place?

Natural Resources Wales issued four flood warnings for the River Ely on Sunday morning. As reported by WalesOnline, the warnings were for:

• River Ely at Peterston-super-Ely
• River Ely at Talbot Green
• River Ely at St Fagans
• River Ely at Ely Bridge

The agency said flooding of low-lying land and roads was expected, while flooding to property was possible. It said river levels would be above normal and that it would continue to monitor the situation.

Across Wales, the number of warnings and alerts changed through the weekend. WalesOnline reported that, early on Sunday, there were five flood warnings and 45 flood alerts active across the country. Earlier, on Saturday evening, Natural Resources Wales had issued 47 flood alerts and six flood warnings.

What happened elsewhere in Wales?

The flooding in Cardiff formed part of a wider period of severe weather across Wales. The BBC reported that Capel Curig in Conwy county recorded a wind gust of 84mph (135km/h) on Saturday, along with 2.1 inches (54.6mm) of rain.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council reported dealing with multiple incidents involving fallen trees. Natural Resources Wales also issued flood warnings for the River Rhondda at Porth, the River Towy at Llanwrda and the River Lower Clydach at Clydach Bridge.

Ferry services were also disrupted. Stena Line cancelled 1,000 sailings between Holyhead and Dublin and warned that other services could be delayed. Irish Ferries cancelled two sailings between Holyhead and Dublin, while the Pembroke to Rosslare service was also cancelled, according to the BBC.

What is the background to this flooding?

The River Ely is a 24-mile watercourse in south Wales, flowing through areas including Talbot Green, Peterston-super-Ely, St Fagans and Ely before reaching Cardiff. Natural Resources Wales issued four flood alerts for regions surrounding the river during the weekend.

The flooding occurred during Storm Boelo, which followed Storm Austen. The back-to-back storms brought heavy rain, strong winds, fallen trees and travel disruption across parts of Wales.

Natural Resources Wales’ flood-warning service had earlier warned that flooding of low-lying land and roads was expected along the River Ely, with flooding to property possible. The agency said rainfall was affecting the area and that river levels would be above normal.

The St Fagans flood warning was lifted after the immediate risk passed. By the afternoon, Natural Resources Wales’ website showed that no flood warnings or flood alerts were in force for the River Ely at Ely in Cardiff, although conditions had already caused substantial disruption.

What could this mean for Cardiff residents?

For residents in Ely, St Fagans, Peterston-super-Ely and Talbot Green, the development highlights the practical importance of monitoring Natural Resources Wales flood warnings, particularly during periods of prolonged rain. People living near the River Ely may need to prepare flood protection, move valuables to higher ground and follow road-closure advice when warnings are issued.

For commuters, flooding on the River Ely can affect both road and rail travel between Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend. Sunday’s closures and rail disruption show that flood warnings can quickly lead to detours, cancelled services and replacement buses, so travellers should check operator updates before setting out.

For local businesses and visitor attractions, including St Fagans National Museum of History, flooding can restrict access and require changes to visitor routes. The immediate reopening of Cowbridge Road and the lifting of the St Fagans warning suggest conditions were improving, but residents and businesses in flood-risk areas are likely to remain alert while river levels and weather forecasts continue to be monitored.