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Police have advised people not to travel in parts of Northern Ireland due to an amber rain warning, as flooding has been reported.
A warning for heavy rain, ranked second highest on the scale, has been issued by the Met Office for a large portion of the southeastern region.
The alert includes Antrim, Down, and Armagh Counties and was activated at 9pm on Monday, lasting until 9am on Tuesday.
The Met Office predicts continuous heavy rainfall, which may result in flooding and disruptions to transportation.
Northern Ireland is under a yellow warning.
On Monday, the canal in Newry, located in Co Down, experienced overflow and resulted in flooding in the city.
In other areas, roads have been shut down because of excessive water, whereas in Dromantine, County Down, roughly 100 sheep needed to be saved earlier in the day on Monday after getting stuck in a field that was flooded.
The Met Office has issued a warning for rainfall ranging from 25mm to 50mm in certain areas, with a potential for up to 100mm in elevated regions.
The Department for Infrastructure in Stormont issued a statement advising individuals to refrain from traveling while the amber warning is still in place.
The (Met Office) issued these warnings after a very rainy weekend that caused flooding on numerous roads.
Due to the ongoing moisture and saturation of the ground, combined with elevated river levels, there is a heightened risk of localized flooding. This may result in potential traffic disruptions, prompting a request for the public to carefully plan their travels and exercise caution if necessary.
It might be required to shut down roads or impose temporary limitations.
The PSNI has issued a statement warning that ongoing heavy rainfall may result in continued flooding and urging the public to take precautions to reduce potential risks.
“Please consider staying at home whenever possible and refrain from making unnecessary trips. If you do need to travel, please keep the current conditions in mind.”
Please slow down and be very careful while driving. There is a risk of aquaplaning due to excess surface water, and even a small amount of floodwater could cause cars to become stuck. Expect significantly reduced visibility.
“Please take into account potential hazards before departing. Avoid putting yourself or others in avoidable peril.”
The Environment Agency in the UK has released over 70 flood warnings in anticipation of Storm Ciaran’s arrival on Wednesday. The Met Office has also issued yellow weather warnings for rain from Monday through Thursday.
The Met Office reported that the south coast of England may experience gusts of 80mph and southern and western areas could receive 20 to 25mm of rain. Higher ground may see up to 40 to 60mm of rainfall.
The forecast warns that the recent rainfall may cause road and public transportation disruptions, particularly in areas already affected by flooding from Storm Babet.
Over the weekend, there were reports of flooding in Sussex. This included the evacuation of Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings on Saturday. Social media posts showed floodwater entering the entrance of the shopping center.
On Sunday, a caravan park in Bognor Regis was also underwater, the town’s Tesco supermarket car park was flooded and a house had its roof ripped off in heavy winds that residents described as like a “tornado”.
According to Marco Petagna, a meteorologist from the Met Office, there have been multiple warnings in effect in the UK in recent days and there will be more issued in the upcoming days.
The primary attention in the upcoming 24-48 hours is on the eastern region of Scotland and northeast England, as a yellow rain alert is in effect until 3am.
“There will be persistent rain up there and then the focus for heavy showers will be across parts of southern and south eastern England and south Wales as well as parts of Northern Ireland with some heavy and sudden showers.”
He mentioned that Tuesday is predicted to be unsettled but calmer compared to the upcoming heavy winds and prolonged periods of rain on Wednesday night and Thursday, when Storm Ciaran arrives.
The man stated that there could be gusts reaching 80 to 90 miles per hour in certain exposed southern regions. He also mentioned that this particular storm is likely to be quite severe.
Kate Marks, the flood duty manager for the Environment Agency, advised individuals to prioritize safety while on the coast and to exercise caution when walking on coastal paths and promenades.
It is possible for low-lying coastal roads to become flooded, and it is important for people to refrain from driving through floodwater. Even as little as 30cm of moving water can be strong enough to move a car.
The upcoming week’s weather is predicted to deteriorate, with rain alerts in effect until Wednesday. On Thursday, a significant low-pressure system, named Storm Ciaran by the Met Office, is forecasted to arrive, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to southern regions of England and Wales.
Chris Almond, the deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, stated that winds from Storm Ciaran could reach gusts of 80mph along the south coast of England. There is a slight possibility that some exposed areas may experience gusts of 90mph, and winds could also reach 50 or 60mph further inland.
“This intense, low-pressure system will also result in significant precipitation across the majority of the UK. The most substantial rainfall is anticipated in the southern and western regions, with a predicted range of 20 to 25mm throughout the area, and a possibility of up to 40 to 60mm in elevated areas.”
There is a possibility of continued and intense rainfall on top of already wet ground, which could result in additional issues like flooding in regions that are already dealing with the aftermath of heavy precipitation in the past week or more.
Source: independent.co.uk
