Storm Betty: Disruption due to flooding and fallen trees

Anna Hannan Upper BallinderryAnna Hannan
Anna Hannan took this picture of a fallen tree in Upper Ballinderry, County Antrim

Storm Betty has brought wind and rain across Northern Ireland with flooding and fallen trees on some roads.

Police advised drivers to be cautious on the roads as high winds and rain would make conditions difficult.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) urged the public to "heed any road closure signage".

"Motorists should continue to proceed carefully and at lower speeds, bearing in mind the impact of this weather on stopping distances and braking," a police spokeswoman said.

Road disruption

In south Belfast, a number of roads and surrounding areas were flooded overnight:

  • Upper Knockbreda Road
  • Castlereagh Road
  • Lough View Road

The M1 Motorway had been closed to traffic at Lisburn due to a fallen tree but has since reopened.

Peter Breene Trees blocking a path in DrumbegPeter Breene
Fallen trees caused problems for walkers in Drumbeg, County Down

Translink and NI Railways said that due to "exceptional weather" there were delays and cancellations across the network.

Severe gusts and rainfall

Katesbridge in County Down had more than half a month's worth of rain in under 12 hours overnight.

The weather station there recorded 45.4mm since 19:00 BST on Friday until 06:00 on Saturday.

Weather watcher Rachel Cassidy  River Roe flooded in LimavadyWeather watcher Rachel Cassidy
The River Roe has flooded due to the large rainfall from Storm Betty

The average rainfall for the entire month of August there is 84mm.

Severe gusts of wind of 90km/h (56mph) were recorded at Ballypatrick in County Antrim, while Orlock Head in County Down saw gusts of 85km/h (53mph).

The strongest gusts were recorded in the Republic with Johnstown Castle in Wexford having 96km/h (60mph) winds overnight.

Weather watcher Frank Widows Row, NewcastleWeather watcher Frank
Widows' Row in Newcastle with high tides following Storm Betty

Conditions were forecast to improve through Saturday with sunny spells and some scattered blustery showers.

Advice and help for those affected by flooding or those who have seen a fallen tree or blocked road can be found on NI Direct's website.

Inpho Previous waterlogging at the Oval stadium in east BelfastInpho
Previous waterlogging at the Oval stadium in east Belfast

Irish Premiership game between Glentoran and Crusaders was postponed on Saturday after heavy rain affected the pitch conditions.

But despite the weather, other Irish premiership games continued as planned.

In the Republic of Ireland, Storm Betty left hundreds of homes without electricity across the country.

There has also been extensive flooding and fallen trees on roads.

RTÉ reported that a taxi driver escaped injury in Templeogue in south Dublin when a tree crashed on to his car as he was driving.

All Met Éireann weather alerts for the country have been lifted.

Niall Carson/PA Members of Irish Coast Guard inspect a boat that broke free from its birth and crashed into the harbour in Co. Waterford during Storm BettyNiall Carson/PA
Members of the Irish Coast Guard inspect a boat that broke free from its berth and crashed into the harbour in County Waterford

In County Waterford a boat, which had been berthed, crashed into the harbour in Dungarvan

Members of the Irish Coast Guard and the Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI) assisted.