Northern Ireland yellow weather warning for heavy rain

The Met Office warning is from midnight tonight (Thursday) until 11am tomorrow.

All areas of Northern Ireland are covered by the warning, with the expectation that rain likely to cause some disruption and flooding in a few areas on Friday.

The public are warned to take precautions over potential flooding in homes and businesses. The rain is also expected to affect anyone travelling, with bus and train services probably affected by longer journey times.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution as there is likely to be spray and flooding on roads.

The Met Office has issued this advice for motorists:

Even moderate rain can reduce your ability to see and be seen. A good rule of thumb is ‘if it’s time for your wipers, it’s time to slow down’. If heavy downpours are expected, avoid starting your journey until it clears. If you can, choose main roads, where you are less likely to be exposed to fallen branches and debris and flooding. Use dipped headlights if visibility is seriously reduced. Roads will be more slippery than usual in wet weather – be sure to give yourself more time to react when approaching a hazard. Increase your following gap to at least four seconds from the moving traffic in front. Keep your eyes peeled on the road at all times as spray from other vehicles can suddenly reduce your visibility. Remember it affects others too, so anticipate their actions and be prepared.