An estate agent in Newry says he has already been contacted by businesses affected by the flooding.

Garry Best says: "The level that water was at yesterday was fierce and it is extremely disappointing to know that those businesses on Sugar Island and Merchant's Quay are unable to get flood insurance and have a lot of damage.

"We have had some of those businesses on, seeking alternative premises to rent short term, which is a lot of hassle and a lot of upheaval for those businesses coming into Christmas."

Cormac Campbell
BBC News NI South-east reporter

The water levels may have dropped slightly in Newry, County Down, but they’re still high.

What’s stark is that this is a tale of two cities - with the County Armagh side, particularly Sugar Island, bearing the brunt.

For most on the County Down side, it’s business as usual.

But what’s even more striking is that on one side of the Armagh/Down bridge, workmen are installing a plinth for a new statue of legendary goalkeeper Pat Jennings.

On the other side, businesses remain knee-deep in water.

People in Downpatrick are cleaning up the flood damage caused overnight and Market Street in the town centre is closed.

Colin McGrath, who is the local SDLP assembly representative, says the picture is "pretty grim".

"It's been destructive to businesses here - there's a need for a co-ordinated response urgently," he says.

Image source, SDLP

Mr McGrath says businesses have had to give up on saving their buildings from the floods.

"They tried to put up sandbags but the water was coming up through the floorboards too - they had to resign until it was over and deal with the mess after," he says.

"Most businesses have been impacted, in the 40 years I've lived here and the 20 I've represented the area, I have never seen it like this."

NI Water is currently trying to save this home, near Coalisland, County Tyrone, from further water damage.

The railway in Downpatrick, County Down, is submerged.

Downpatrick and County Down Railway's buildings are also flooded, "with the lucky exception of the station".

Image source, Downpatrick & County Down Railway

"All we can do is wait and hope waters recede and can then inspect the damage to both structures and rolling stock," it said, on Facebook.

Grainne Connolly
BBC News NI

A small van, which tried to drive through the Ballycrummy Road in Armagh, is now stuck.

A recovery lorry has arrived to pull the van out of the water.

Several houses are along the Ballycrummy Road where the water is lying and I can’t see how they could physically get in or out.

Martin, who works on the road, said the water “isn’t as high as it was yesterday”.

“It’s hard for people getting in and out there who live up there," he adds.

“It’s been doing that there for a long time. They built up the Killylea Road and they were supposed to build up that road too but they never did it, so all the water is going to come in here anyway.

“If that river pushes its banks at all, the water’s coming in."

Image source, Getty Images

Colin Neill, from Hospitality Ulster, says the impact on the flooded businesses isn’t just physical.

“It’s the loss of trading and the stresses and strains that go with it," he tells The Nolan Show.

"There's an ecosystem here and if you break it, it’s gone for good.

“There’s no magic wand. We all know money is tight but there is a hardship relief fund.

"It’s a complicated process to apply for and we are asking the Department of Finance to put someone on the ground, filling in the forms - you can’t be dealing with the aftermath of a flood with stock ruined - and also have to be expected to fill in forms too."

Glynn Roberts, from the Federation of Small Businesses agrees: "It’s a hammer blow to small businesses so close to Christmas – a lot of these people have put their life and soul into this and to see it destroyed is terrible," he says.

“The rates hardship fund has to deploy – these businesses can't trade at present, so how on earth can they afford to pay the rates bill?

"We pay the most expensive businesses rates in the UK by a country mile."

We've seen flooding across Northern Ireland but the Met Office has now cancelled its warning for Thursday.

Still, further patches of rain and showers are expected on Wednesday.

Although not on the same scale, any rain will fall on very saturated ground and into already swollen rivers.

The good news is that dry weather will move in this evening and overnight as clear skies settle in.

Northern Ireland looks set to largely avoid Storm Ciarán on Thursday, with the main impacts of that system forecast for Britain.

However, there’s still a chance that eastern counties could be affected by rain during the day, along with windier conditions.

Drier and sunnier weather is forecast further west.

Almost 800 calls have been made to the Department for Infrastructure's flooding line.

In response, more than 12,000 sandbags have been deployed to the areas worst affected in Northern Ireland.

Newry and the south eastern part of NI has been particularly hard hit, due to rain intensity, high tides and saturated ground, DfI says.

It added that the "huge multi-agency response effort is working well" and river and lough levels continue to be monitored as levels rise.

People are urged to stay away from flood defences, flooded areas and watercourses.

Image source, Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

DfI information can be found in the links below.

• Flooding in your area, external
• Driving in adverse weather, external
• Road closures, external

After the flooding between Bangor and Great Victoria Street, all railway lines have now reopened.

Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed.

If you're not sure how your route has been affected by the recent weather, check out the Translink website , externalwhere updates are available.

Cecilia Daly
BBC NI weather presenter

Image source, PA

Met Eireann has issued a yellow level rainwarning, external in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, and Waterford.

It is valid from 19:00 GMT on Wednesday to 07:00 on Thursday.

The highest impacts of Storm Ciarán are likely to be felt in southern Britain, the Channel Islands and parts of France.

Red weather warnings have been issued by the Jersey weather service and MeteoFrance.

October 2023 may not be the wettest on record in NI as that title belongs to 1870 when 246.6mm of rain fell but it will certainly make the top 10. The final rainfall figures should be available in the next day or so

Cecilia Daly
BBC NI weather presenter

Last night’s rainfall totals were not as high as Monday night - 20-40mm fell in the wettest areas which compares with 75.4mm of rain falling at Killowen, in County Down, up to 09:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Killowen had its wettest 24-hour period on record from 09:00 GMT on Monday to 09:00 on Tuesday.

Image source, PA

There will be some heavy showers and possible thunder in places today, but the heavier showers will be localised and the blustery winds shouldn't last too long in any one place.

Storm Ciarán is currently developing in the Atlantic and will move towards Ireland and the UK tonight and tomorrow.

Gary Quinn, from the Department for Infrastructure, tells the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that the flooding his colleagues have seen in the last few days - in Newry in particular - is unprecedented.

"We still have concerns about Newry - there is a tidal influence so we still have concerns around midday for potential further breaches of the canal wall," he says.

"We have a high number of sandbags placed."

The department is also concerned about Banbridge and Portadown, where the Bann River's level is rising, but Mr Quinn added that a significant number of areas have needed departmental help.

Cormac Campbell
BBC News NI South-east reporter

I'm in Newry and water level wise - it seems to be dropping somewhat.

It is now possible to drive up Merchant's Quay towards Canal Street - but it's little comfort for the businesses in Sugar Island where the water level remains high and the road remains closed.

In nearby Rostrevor, in St Colman's Gardens, young farmers got together to pump water out of a flooding street and into the sea.

Image source, PA Media

In Newry, the housing starts just outside where the bulk of flooding has taken place, however there are housing developments planned for inside the city centre which is a growing trend.

There is a proposed site for a multi-million pound arts centre too, but the area where that is to go is currently underwater, so no doubt that will be a big discussion point next week.

Grainne Connolly
BBC News NI

A walkway behind St Patrick’s Park, off the Killylea Road in Armagh, remains flooded this morning.

It’s where part of the Callan River burst its banks yesterday.

I was speaking to one woman who lives in the area and was out walking her dog.

The flooding disrupted her normal walking route.

She said she had “never seen anything like it” yesterday.

The Killylea Road was not passable at all but now the road has opened and remains busy.

• The railway line to Bangor has been closed due to flooding and train services to Londonderry have been stopping at Coleraine with rail replacement buses in place, according to Translink
• Passengers have also been warned of delays on the Portadown line
• Due to flooding on the line between Portadown and Dundalk, a bus substitute will remain in place today
• In Templepatrick, all 300/A services will omit Templepatrick. All services will operate through Antrim town. On the inward journey, services will exit the motorway and serve Ballymartin Park and Ride until further notice.

For the latest travel news, check the Translink website for train journeys here, external and buses here., external

Paul McCartan, the owner of menswear store McCartans on Newry's Sugar Island, was waist deep in water in his shop yesterday.

"The last 30 hours have been a nightmare,” he tells Good Morning Ulster.

“We had to break in to see what stock we could salvage and get to one side."

Image source, PA

He had very recently refurbished the shop in preparation for the busy Christmas season, including fitting a new floor.

"That’s literally down the drain now - I have to bounce back - I have a family to support and a business that’s been in existence since 1959."

He has two weddings this weekend and thankfully the suits were upstairs.

Image source, Brendan Digney

His business is among those without flood insurance.

"We are on our own at the moment and I have a property that’s going to need extensive work to it," he says.

Can he put a figure on his losses?

"An underwater shop, a heating system. I'll not have much change out of £250,000," he says.

"It's gutwrenching."

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI

I feared the worst when I arrived here in the centre of Newry around six o’clock this morning.

But I was slightly surprised to see the water at lower levels than I had seen on BBC Newsline last night.

Most of the heavy overnight rain seems to have been in north Down rather than south Down last night.

But more rain is forecast and people are fearing the worst, but hoping for the best.

The good news is, though it’s little consolation, the water has receded, but it’s going to take a lot of time to clear it up.

And one of the issues is what are the insurance companies going to say?

Is there going to be any consolation, even though there is no specific flooding insurance because of the nature of what’s happened here in the last 24 hours or will there be any dispensation made?

There are a number of road closures in Northern Ireland this morning.

In a tweet, NI Road Policing and Safety says that persistent heavy rain has resulted in surface water and flooding of roads in many areas.

"Road users are advised to continue to exercise caution and reduce speed given the wet road conditions."

• Newry Road from Rathfriland Road Roundabout to Mayobridge closed due to flooding
• Ferryhill Road, Newry closed due to a landslide
• The A2 Shore Road leaving Rostrevor closed due to a landslide. Local diversion in place.
• Mayobridge-Hilltown Road is impassable due to flooding between Maybridge and Hilltown
• The A2 Killowen Road closed due to the possibility of landslips - Rostrevor to Kilkeel traffic will be diverted via Rostrevor–Hilltown–Kilcoo–Castlewellan–Newcastle-Kilkeel
• The B3 Legananny Road, Scarva, has been closed between the Old Mill Road and Lisnagade Road following damage to a bridge
• Black Causeway Road, Strangford, has been closed due to flooding at a number of locations along the route
• The A26 Glenavy Road, Moira, remains closed due to flooding leaving M1 Moira Road roundabout. Surrounding roads are also badly affected with flooding
• International Airport traffic may want to consider using M1, A12 and M2 as an alternative route and allow extra time for their journey
• Camlough Road/Newtown Road, Newry, closed due to flooding
• The A25 Rathfriland/Finnard Road, Newry, is closed between Shinn Straight and the Arddarragh crossroads due to severe flooding
• Greenan Road, Poyntpass, is closed from Rockmeeting Road to Blackridge Road
• The Bridge Road South, Helen's Bay, has been closed due to flooding.
• Ballynahinch-Drumgiven Road closed from Creevyargon Road to Cahard Road due to severe flooding
• The B2 Mullahead Road, Portadown, closed due to flooding
• Brackagh Moss Road, Portadown, closed due to flooding
• Also in Portadown, Meadow Lane (Access from Health Centre side) Park Road, Tandragee Road Ashgrove Road are closed.
• The B3 Ballynaskeagh Road is passable with care after the verge collapsed at two separate locations
• The A28 Killylead Road, Armagh, is closed at Mullagrieve Park due to Callan River bursting it banks
• Callenbridge Road, Armagh, is flooded
• Cathedral Road, Armagh, is passible with care
• Grange Blundel Road is closed at junction U7431 Ballyygassoon Road
• Glenanne Road (the A28 Gosford Road to B133 Bessbrook Road) is closed after River Cusher burst its banks
• Magheramayo Road, in Castlewellan, has experienced flooding
• Rehaghey Road, Aughnacloy, is closed due to a road slip
• Quarry Road, Comber, has experienced flooding
• Riley Street, Banbridge, is closed at the junction with Downshire Road at the mini roundabout due to flooding
• Bryansford Road, Newcastle, is closed due to flooding

• The A28 Killylea Road, Armagh, is closed at Mullacreevie Park due to a river bursting it banks
• The A51 Hamiltonsbawn Road, Tandragee, is closed at Cordrain Road junction
• A3 Armagh to Portadown Road at Stonebridge Roundabout is flooded due to a river bursting its banks, but passable with care
• Battlehill Road/Kilmore Road is closed near Stonebridge Roundabout due to a river bursting its banks.
• Callanbridge Road/Armagh Road is closed due to a river bursting its banks
• Cathedral Road, Armagh, is flooded, but passable with care
• Mullahead Road, Portadown, is closed due to the River Bann bursting its banks and overflowing
• Ballcrummy Road, Armagh, is closed due to flooding
• Mullenure Lane, Armagh, is closed due to flooding
• Bolton Road, outside Markethill Road, is closed due to flooding
• Ballyards Road, Millford, is closed due to flooding
• Ballygassoon Road is at closed junction C183 Grange Blundel Road
• Glenanne Road (the A28 Gosford Road to B133 Bessbrook Road) has closed after the River Cusher burst banks
• Ballyards Road is closed after the River Callan burst banks

Many businesses in the Newry area have no flood insurance as they have previously been affected by floods, and some estimate that repairs could take months.

Solicitor Kevin Neary says the basement of his premises was under several feet of water.

"It's the same as what happened in 2007 when we were similarly flooded," he told Good Morning Ulster on Wednesday morning.

Image source, Kevin Neary

"The consequence for a lot of businesses in Newry is that since 2007 they cannot get flood insurance."

He added: "You're effectively sunk, you're having to bear the losses yourself which is where we're all facing at the moment, 80-odd businesses."