Yellow weather warning as NI faces flood risk

MET office forecasters are warning that Northern Ireland is in for a weekend of torrential rain — with a risk of flooding across the country.

Yellow warnings for rain and wind today and thunderstorms tomorrow and Sunday have been issued by the forecasters.

In the worst affected regions, communities may see 40-60mm of rain during the warning period, with 10-15mm of rain expected widely.

The Department of Infrastructure has called on local motorists to take extra care in the wet and windy conditions — and has also issued guidance to householders on flood damage precautions.

Forecasters are attributing the weather threat to “an unseasonable area of low-pressure” that has moved into position across the UK.

Today, the low pressure system will bring heavy, possibly thundery rain to Northern Ireland at first accompanied by strong easterly winds.

Things may brighten up a little by late morning, with a few heavy showers possible in the afternoon, the Met Office said.

Tomorrow will see some sunshine as well as scattered thundery downpours, while there will be even more rain on Sunday.

Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, yesterday said: “This low-pressure system will bring challenging conditions, including unseasonably strong winds and heavy rain, from the west during Friday and Saturday.

“Summer storms — compared with those in autumn and winter — always have the potential to create additional impacts because more people are likely to be outdoors.

“Additionally with trees in full leaf they are more vulnerable to being brought down by strong winds,” he added.