Rain plays havoc with Ulster roads
BAD weather caused havoc on roads across the Province at the weekend with heavy rainfall leading to flooding.
Northern Ireland Water received more than 350 calls from concerned residents on Saturday, while Roads Service had to deploy additional resources to deal with more reports of flooding yesterday.
A spokesman revealed that around 20 millimetres of rain fell across the Province from approximately 6am to mid-afternoon yesterday.
On Saturday, Co Down was particularly badly affected with the Killowen Road, between Rostrevor and Kilkeel, closed due to flooding close to Ballyedmond Castle, as was the Greenpark Road.
The Kilbroney Road between Rostrevor and Hilltown also was closed.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service was called to a house close to a swollen river at Warrenpoint after fears that it could burst its banks.
Charlemont Street and Smalls Road in Warrenpoint and the Ballymaderfy Road in Kilkeel were also affected by the weather.
District Commander for Newry District Brian McGuigan said that thanks to early intervention and the help of the River Agency, crews were able to get a lot of flood water away from private dwellings and prevent damage to property.
Elsewhere in the Province the Turmore Road at Newry and Ballyards Road at Armagh were closed due to flooding.
Two cars got stuck on the Gilford Road at Portadown close to the town’s golf club. Nearby, the road from Long Lane to Mullahead Road also had to be closed for a time.
There were reports of flooding at Broadway roundabout close to the Westlink in Belfast, where the water was reported to be over two feet deep, and along the main Coleraine to Portstewart road.
Northern Ireland Water’s Frank Stewart said that workers were doing their best to ensure the road networks continued to operate normally, adding that affected areas were being “returned to normal as quickly as possible”.
On Sunday morning, motorists faced more hazards on the roads following reports of black ice.
Drivers were warned to proceed with caution around Craigantlet, the road at Nutts Corner towards Dundrod and the New Line road from Antrim to Carrickfergus.
Meanwhile, 115 homes in Aghalee were left without power after damage was caused to the overhead electricity network.
Emergency crews worked until the early hours of Sunday morning to repair that.
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Weather for Belfast
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
