Northern Ireland weather forecast: Major operation under way in Newry after canal bursts banks as heavy rain causes chaos across NI

Video footage showed water flowing through the streets.

Officials worked through the evening to get sandbags in place to protect areas including Sugar Island and around Newry Town Hall.

One local resident said it is the highest he has seen the water in over a decade.

As heavy rain battered Northern Ireland, the PSNI warned people not to travel with a series of weather warnings in force.

Over 300 calls have been made to the Flooding Incident Line, officials said tonight.

Travellers have been told to stay off the roads between 9pm on Monday and 9am on Tuesday as heavy rain is expected to cause further chaos.

The PSNI said it is asking people to help minimise the risk posed by persistent heavy rain which will lead to further flooding across NI on Tuesday.

“Please stay at home where possible and do not make unnecessary journeys,” a spokesperson said.

“If you must travel, please bear the prevailing conditions in mind.”

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said Newry is “one of many areas where water levels are being monitored by DfI staff during this period of severe weather”.

“Heavy rain in recent days falling on already saturated land, has caused many issues for watercourses and roads and operational teams have worked hard to reduce the impacts of flooding where possible,” it said tonight.

“Over 318 calls have been received by the Flooding Incident Line. As a result DfI Roads and Rivers staff have been deployed to various locations to provide assistance and thousands of sandbags have been deployed across Northern Ireland.

“DfI have also engaged with the PSNI and multi agency partners and held a series of internal resource planning activities in recent days to plan and to deploy resources effectively for the various weather warnings that had been issued.”

The PSNI tonight urged people to avoid Newtown Road, Camlough; New Street and Canal Quay, Newry; Killowen Road, Rostrevor and Kilkeel Road, Newcastle.

Further preparations are being made ahead of Storm Ciarán which is set to bring further rain on Thursday.

The Met Office has issued various warnings for rain until Thursday..

A yellow warning is currently in place for most Northern Ireland counties until noon on Tuesday.

An additional amber is effective from 9pm on Monday until 9am on Tuesday for heavy rain in counties Armagh, Antrim and Down.

Another yellow warning has been issued for heavy rain on Tuesday until 9am on Wednesday.

Heavy rain can also be expected on Thursday as Storm Ciarán arrives, forecasters said.

A DfI spokesperson said the warnings follow “an extremely wet weekend” which resulted in flooding on many roads.

“The persistent wet conditions on saturated ground and with higher river levels this will inevitably lead to more localised flooding,” they added.

“Traffic disruption is possible and the public are being asked to consider their journeys and take extra care if travel is necessary.”

In chaotic scenes, a car was almost submerged in floodwater on Tirmacrannon Road just outside Loughgall in Co Armagh during the evening commute on Monday.

A number of roads were closed or have been restricted to one lane due to heavy rain, including the Glenavy Road in Co Down. It was flooded under the railway bridge and the road has been closed at the Moira roundabout. Traffic is being diverted via Station Road.

Surrounding roads were also badly affected and traffic heading to the International Airport were advised to use the M1, A12 or M2 as alternatives and to allow extra time for their journey.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said persistent and heavy rain “will lead to further flooding and transport disruption”.

The Met Office said fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, “causing a danger to life”.

Commenting on the amber alert a Met Office spokesperson said: “Further rain will affect Northern Ireland during Monday evening and overnight, becoming heavy and persistent in the east.

“25-50 mm of rain falling widely and as much as 75 to 100mm over hills, this falling on already saturated ground. The rain will ease from the south through Tuesday morning.”

A number of roads in Northern Ireland were closed or restricted to one lane due to heavy rain on Monday morning.

The heavy rain was causing difficulties along the Gosford Road in Co Armagh.

The road was closed between the Mullaghglass roundabout and Tandragee Road in Markethill due to severe flooding.

The Newtown Road, Camlough was also closed between McCrinks Lane and Main Street in Camlough.

Due to flooding, some routes in the Lisburn area were not passable.

In Belfast, the footway and cycleway under Governors Bridge was closed due to the River Lagan overtopping the river wall.

Meanwhile, the meteorology service issued yet another yellow warning for rain from 6am on Thursday to midnight for counties Antrim, Armagh and Down.

“Heavy rain associated with Storm Ciaran could bring some disruption to the east of Northern Ireland,” the Met Office said regarding Thursday’s weather warning.

“After a very brief respite, another spell of heavy rain is likely to move from the southwest later on Tuesday and at first on Wednesday,” said the Met Office.

“Many places will see another 15 to 25 mm, with 30-50 mm possible in the east, this falling on already very saturated ground.”