Image source, Pacemaker

Hello and welcome to day two of our live coverage of the heavy rain which is particularly affecting counties Down, Armagh and Antrim.

Road closures are in place in counties Armagh and Down.

Newry has really suffered with flooding after the river burst its banks - closing part of the city and damaging properties.

The yellow weather warning for heavy rain is in place until 09:00 GMT on Wednesday morning.

The Met Office says continued flooding and transport disruption is likely, with 15-20mm of rain expected.

Stay with us and we will keep you up to date.

We're wrapping up our live page coverage on the heavy rain and flooding that has affected parts of Northern Ireland.

The worst of the flooding has been in counties Armagh and Down.

In Newry, where the canal burst its banks it's been a day of clean-ups and boat cruises.

Image source, Pacemaker

Image source, Pacemaker

As recovery efforts continue, some locals are prepping for even more rain, fearing the worst has yet to come.

Another yellow warning for rain comes into effect from 21:00 GMT.

Image source, Pacemaker

In Newcastle Joe McParland and his family had to hitch a high ride from their caravan at Sunnyholme Holiday Park.

Our main story will continue to be updated throughout the evening so you can keep across the latest developments here.

Image source, Pacemaker

Paddy Lavery from the Department for Infrastructure said with another weather warning coming, "hitting already very saturated ground," a huge team was working hard to deal with flooding.

However he said it was a challenge.

"We have measurements on the rivers, loughs, tides and we haven't seen this before," he told BBC's Evening Extra programme.

"This is an area we haven't dealt with. We have a finite resource. Where is the water to get away to?

"We are resorting to providing sandbags to protect properties," he said.

Image source, Reuters

He added that "every available resource" was being used and the most at risk areas were being prioritised.

Mr Lavery said water levels were "unprecedented" and four roads had been affected by landslips.

He asked people not to travel into the city unless for essential purposes.

Image source, Translink

The flooding has caused disruption on several rail routes across Northern Ireland.

On their website, Translink say that the south bound line between Portadown and Dundalk is closed and that some services running in the opposite direction may also be cancelled or delayed.

They have also warned passengers to expect possible delays and cancellations to services between Great Victoria Street and Londonderry.

Translink have said a bus substitution service will be running between Belfast and Dublin, calling at Portadown, Newry, and Dundalk

Image source, Translink

Ita Dungan
BBC News NI in Newcastle

Residents of Marguerite Avenue in Newcastle have been placing sand bags at their front door in an attempt to keep the rising water at bay.

Outside on the street and in the front garden, the water is knee-deep and continues to bubble up from several manholes.

Some residents are considering moving out as boilers and electricity have failed.

Throughout the day we've been updating you on road closures caused by the flooding across Northern Ireland.

To view the full and up-to-date list of affected roads you can visit the Traffic Watch NI website here., external

Darran Marshall
BBC News NI in Newry

Part of a wall along Merchants Quay in Newry has collapsed into the canal.

Water has started to seep through the wall.

A large police cordon is now in place

In the last few minutes, the PSNI has issued a further update on "hazardous conditions" in Newry.

Supt Norman Haslett says: “We are continuing to warn the public to avoid Newry city centre and the surrounding area because of excessive flooding due to the canal bursting its banks overnight and heavy rainfall."

He is urging people to keep away from the canal and river which have high water levels and fast flowing currents.

Retail NI and Hospitality Ulster say they are urging the Department of Finance to give flood-impacted businesses an immediate rates holiday to assist them with recovery.

The are asking the department to make this possible through the existing Rates Hardship Fund.

Image source, PA Media

"Given the substantial loss of trading and damage suffered by these businesses this is the very least that should be done to support them," the bodies say in a joint statement.

“Insurance companies and banks also need to play their part in supporting impacted businesses with speedily claims processing and giving them greater flexibility in replaying loans and overdrafts.”

The organisations are also calling for an "immediate review" of flood protections measures.

Barra Best
BBC News NI weather presenter

An update now to weather warnings issued for the next couple of days:

Between 21:00 tonight and 09:00 on Wednesday there is a yellow rain warning for all of Northern Ireland. The Met Office expects 15-25mm of rain for many places, with 30-50mm of rain possible in the east.

From 06:00 on Thursday morning, until midnight on Thursday there is a yellow rain warning for County Down, south County Antrim, and parts of County Armagh.

Storm Ciarán will bring some heavy rain to eastern areas - 10-20mm of rain in quite a few places, with up to 30-40mm across County Down.

Strong winds will accompany the rain too.

Darran Marshall
BBC News NI in Newry

In the past few mins police have cleared the area in front of the town hall in Newry.

Officers have told the public they are worried the walls will collapse.

There doesn’t seem to be any imminent danger but they are taking no chances.

Those walls around Kildare Street are holding back the water and have been under pressure for hours.

Image source, PA Media

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) say they are clearing members of the public in the Solitude Park area of Banbridge, County Down.

"The level of the River Bann has risen dangerously high and we would ask any parents or guardians who may have children in the park to make sure they leave immediately."

Patrick Fee
BBC News NI in Camlough

Flood waters have begun to recede on Main Street in Camlough, but for some residents the news brings little comfort.

Paul Brannigan saw his home flooded overnight.

“I’ve had four inches of water in each room, I’ve had to brush it out. There’s a fair bit of damage.”

In spite of the water’s retreat, Paul’s house continues to see inflows.

“When the lorries or vans go past it soars and it just runs straight in.”

Paul told BBC News NI that his home had never previously been flooded.

“[The water] would have built up there a bit before but never came up to the door… Never, never, never anything like this before.”

Paul can count himself as particularly unlucky. “It’s got me twice.”

Pointing towards heavily flooded bridge a few streets away “my yard is just below there”.

Brendan Downey, a director of a fast food firm in Newry, says flood damage to the premises is "catastrophic".

He was speaking after Newry Canal burst its banks overnight, flooding parts of the city centre.

Sinn Féin assembly member Liz Kimmins said businesses in the town were devastated.

Image source, Pacemaker

Some patients at the Ulster Hospital have had to be moved after a rainwater pipe became blocked, causing water damage to a small number of rooms.

In a statement to BBC News NI, the South Eastern Trust said that all elective surgery has continued as normal and their estate teams are working to address the issue as quickly as possible.

Darran Marshall
BBC News NI in Newry

The canal which runs through this city is now a fast flowing river.

From where I am standing close to the courthouse, there’s water everywhere.

Image source, Pacemaker

Cars are completely submerged in what should be a car park but now resembles a lake.

The Riverside Church is flooded and there are people paddling up the city’s streets in boats and they are struggling with the force of the water.

All along the canal banks businesses are facing ruin as their premises are under about four feet of water and completely inaccessible.

Patrick Fee
BBC News NI in Camlough

Three horses have been rescued by the fire service after becoming stranded by floodwater in Camlough.

Owner Gary Murphy became concerned about his animals as rainfall grew heavier on Monday evening.

“I came down here yesterday for feeding and the place was flooded, I couldn’t get at them.

“They were stressed out, they were stranded. Just a wee small island was all they had. And the water was just rising, rising, rising.”

After a sleepless night, Gary returned early on Tuesday morning to see the water still rising.

With the help of NIFRS and animal rescue, Gary was able to lead the animals to safety.

"They’re a bit shaken, I’ll have to ring the vet here and see what I can give them. Hopefully they’ll be all right now," he added.

“The fire brigade and animal rescue were very helpful… They were absolutely brilliant.”

Businessman Eamonn Connolly, manager of Newry's Business Improvement District (BID) organisation, was in the city centre overnight and witnessed the flooding.

"It's unbelievable," he told BBC News NI, saying he had never seen the water levels so high.

He said business owners whose properties have been damaged cannot yet access their premises.

Mr Connolly added that there is concern that there could be worse to come because of the high tide expected again around noon.

Image source, Pacemaker

The road closures keep coming - the Department for Infrastructure have now published the following information on roads in County Antrim:

• Ballygally – Contractor on site – But road remains closed for now.
• Tower Road junction with Coast Road approx. 6 miles from Carnlough – Road closed – Landslide
• Drumnageeragh Road, approx. 3 miles from Ballygally – Landslide

Again, keep scrolling to see what other roads have been affected.

Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent

There is a sense of devastation and disbelief in Newry as people survey the damage.

The flooding is most severe in the area between Newry River and Newry Canal. The canal has spilled over to leave a shopping street, Sugar Island, under several feet of water.

Close by on Basin Walk, a car is almost totally submerged – while businesses and a church have been hit by the flood.

The river has turned into a torrent, and sandbags have been placed along the bank near the Town Hall – as businesspeople express concern that the worst may not be over.

The main road between Dublin and Belfast has now reopened for south bound traffic. However the north bound carriageway of the N1 remains closed due to the flooding at junction 20 (Carrickdale Hotel).

The Department for Infrastructure have advised that the area around the junction is only passable on the south bound side with extreme care.