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Up to one month's average rainfall is expected to fall in parts of Northern Ireland today leading to forecasters issuing an 'amber' weather alert.
Up to 30mm of rain could fall from around mid-afternoon today until early tomorrow morning — with high winds also predicted.
Councillors in Belfast were last night organising sandbags for residents in areas hit by the summer’s torrential downpours.
If the weather predictions are accurate, today may prove to be the first big test of the ability of the authorities to react to flooding since the June deluge that left them floundering.
Former Lord Mayor Niall O Donnghaile said the city council would be co-ordinating an emergency response.
“People should be alert and look out for their properties and indeed vulnerable neighbours etc,” he said on Twitter.
And SDLP councillor Claire Hanna wrote on Twitter: “I believe clearance work over the last 12 weeks will help but working to get sandbags out to most at risk.
“Obviously sandbags and people to deliver them are a finite resource so please consider if you really need them.”
Meteogroup spokesman Paul Knox said: “Much of the day will be wet with widespread rain across the whole of Northern Ireland. It is likely to be heavy at times and some areas could see up to 20 to 30mm of rain during the day.
“Over the 24 hours from Monday morning to Monday night we are expecting up to 30 or 40mm of rain which is about enough for localised flooding.
The north coast area could experience the strongest winds — about 50mph.
The flooding emergency number is 0300 2000 100, NI Water has a Waterline on 08457 440088 and the number for Belfast City Council is 0800 707 6965.
