Warning: Yellow

To expect: Rain

Affected areas: Northern Ireland

Start time estimate: Thursday 11am

End time estimate: Thursday 11pm

The Met Office has announced a Yellow rain warning for Northern Ireland until Thursday night.

The region should prepare for prolonged rainfall, which is forecast to clear at around 11pm on Thursday.

The Yellow alert for rain was announced at 11:02am on Thursday, October 2.

A Met Office forecast said: “Outbreaks of rain are likely at times on Thursday, becoming heavier and more persistent through the afternoon and early evening, before clearing to the east by Thursday night. Accumulations of 20-30 mm are likely fairly widely, with in excess of 40 mm possible over high ground. Given recent wet weather, this may lead to some flooding. It will also become rather windy for a time later on Thursday afternoon and into the evening, especially in the east with gusts along the coast potentially in excess of 50 mph.”

What to expect

There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings; There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life; Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services; Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures; There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads; There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

What should you do during heavy rainfall?

Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do: consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

What is a yellow weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Yellow weather alert for rain will remain in place until 11pm on Thursday.