NEWS

The scene on Steeple Road, Antrim Road users across Northern Ireland are being urged to exercise caution as the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) continues to respond to the aftermath of Storm Chandra, which has brought widespread flooding, fallen trees and hazardous driving conditions. While weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds have now ended, the impact on the road network remains significant, with difficult conditions reported in many areas due to surface wat

The Met Office has issued a further yellow weather warning for ice across Northern Ireland, as multi-agency partners continue to meet in response to Storm Chandra and its ongoing impacts. The warning is in place from 03:00 to 10:00 on Wednesday 28 January 2026 , with all counties affected. Forecasters have warned that clearing skies overnight on Tuesday will allow temperatures to fall below freezing, increasing the risk of icy conditions following several days of heavy rainfa

Students at Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen who will among those learning about Graduated Drivers Licensing today. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is to be introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2026, marking the most significant reform of driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. The new scheme, unveiled as part of a Road Safety Strategy Action Plan, is aimed at tackling the disproportionate involvement

Emergency services, infrastructure teams and public bodies across Northern Ireland are stepping up preparations ahead of the anticipated impact of Storm Chandra, as a combination of yellow and amber Met Office weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds comes into force. Multi-agency planning is already underway to minimise disruption and protect public safety, with authorities warning of possible power cuts, travel disruption, flooding and coastal hazards over the comin

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for parts of Northern Ireland as Storm Chandra is forecast to bring very strong winds, heavy rain and the risk of disruption on Tuesday. The amber warning will be in effect between 05:00 and 21:00 on Tuesday 27 January 2026 , covering County Antrim, County Down and County Londonderry. Forecasters warn that easterly winds will strengthen rapidly early on Tuesday morning, with gusts of 60–70 mph expected across eastern and nort

The Met Office has issued an updated yellow weather warning for rain covering Northern Ireland, with heavy rainfall and strong winds forecast to bring the risk of flooding and disruption on Tuesday 27 January. The warning is in effect from 02:00 until 21:00 on Tuesday , as a spell of unsettled weather moves across the region. Outbreaks of rain are expected to spread across Northern Ireland during the early hours, with some of the precipitation possibly falling as snow for a t

Northern Ireland is set to face a spell of unsettled weather over the coming days, with two yellow weather warnings for rain issued amid concerns about localised flooding, difficult travel conditions and further disruption. The first warning comes into effect from 18: 00 on Saturday 24 January until 09:00 on Sunday 25 January , as a slow-moving area of low pressure brings a prolonged period of rain across the region overnight. A band of rain and showers, heavy at times, is ex

PSNI Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson A senior officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has renewed an urgent appeal to motorists to prioritise road safety, after new figures revealed hundreds of drink and drug driving arrests during the Christmas period. Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson issued the warning as data from the PSNI’s winter anti-drink and drug drive campaign highlighted the continuing scale of dangerous behaviour on Northern Ireland’s roads.

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for Northern Ireland, with forecasters warning of potential flooding and transport disruption throughout Thursday. The warning is in effect between 10:00 and 23:59 on Thursday 22 January 2026 , covering County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. Periods of persistent rain are expected to affect much of the region during the day. Weather officials say 15 to 25mm of rainfall is likely to fal

Kilrea Bridge Residents and businesses in north Antrim have been given fresh reassurance that progress is being made on repairs to the Kilrea Bridge, with confirmation that the route is expected to reopen by mid-February. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA for North Antrim Jon Burrows said the update followed correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), welcoming the progress after a prolonged period of disruption for local communities. “Further to this correspo

Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA has called on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to take urgent action following widespread disruption caused by snow and ice across Northern Ireland last week. Mr Stewart has confirmed that, at his request, the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee has agreed to write formally to the Minister, seeking answers over the handling of winter services during the recent spell of severe weather. The cold snap led to signif

Castle Street 3 car park, Ballymena CCTV has been installed at a Ballymena town centre car park following a series of reports of antisocial behaviour, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed. The Church Street 3 car park, which can be accessed from both Castle Street and the Larne Road Link, has become a regular meeting point for young drivers during night-time hours. While the area is commonly used for parking, concerns have been raised due to its close proximity t

Work has officially begun on a long-awaited new Park and Ride facility at Ballymena Bus and Train Station, marking a significant milestone in a campaign that has spanned more than a decade. The North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew has welcomed confirmation from Translink that construction is now underway on a 387-space Park and Ride expansion, an issue he says he has been actively pursuing since 2013. Speaking following the announcement, Mr Frew said: “I am delighted that Translin

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Ben-my-Chree vessel The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced a significantly enhanced ferry timetable for 2026/27, strengthening maritime connections between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and opening up new opportunities for passengers, freight operators and businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea. The new three-vessel schedule, which is now on sale, marks the first time in more than 15 years that the Isle of Man has o

The Met Office has issued successive yellow weather warnings for strong winds across Northern Ireland, warning of potential disruption from Sunday through into Monday. The first warning is in force from 00:00 until 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2026 , and covers County Antrim, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. A second warning follows immediately afterwards, running from 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January, until 12:00 on Monday, 12 January 2026 , and applies to County

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting Northern Ireland, with the potential for localised flooding as heavy rainfall combines with milder temperatures and melting snow. The warning is in effect from 9.00pm on Saturday 10 January until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 January , covering the entire region. According to the Met Office, bands of rain will move across Northern Ireland during Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, bringing the risk of flooding in

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with icy conditions expected to develop overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. The warning is in force from 5pm on Friday 9 January until 11am on Saturday 10 January , covering much of the region during a period when temperatures are forecast to drop sharply below freezing. Forecasters say clear spells on Friday evening and overnight will allow temperatures to fall quickly, leading to the

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice covering all of Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected overnight and into Friday morning. The warning will be in effect from 12.00am until 11.00am on Friday, 9 January 2026 , as temperatures fall and wintry showers create icy patches on roads and pavements. According to the Met Office, “clearing skies and scattered wintry showers” are expected to develop through the night, increasing the risk of ice, p

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has called for a new bridge in Kilrea in the wake of the prolonged closure of the village’s Bann bridge. At January’s full council meeting, members approved a cross-party motion proposed by UUP councillor Richard Holmes and seconded by Sinn Féin councillor Sean Bateson and DUP alderman Michelle Knight-McQuillan . The motion stated: “This council notes the recent closure of Kilrea’s Bann Bridge due to maintenance issues and the detri

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the Infrastructure Minister to review the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) Roads policy on grit provision, warning that the current approach risks undermining community efforts to improve safety during winter weather. The intervention follows recent snow and icy conditions, during which many communities relied heavily on grit to help keep roads and footways passable. Mr Swann said residents have expressed a willingness to take p