Heavy downpours have caused flooding and traffic disruption in parts of Northern Ireland as forecasters issued an amber thunderstorm warning. The Met Office warned of high water affecting homes and businesses and said power cuts were likely as the heatwave broke with torrential rainfall. Belfast International Airport recorded 74.4mm between midday and 3pm today. The average Northern Ireland rainfall for the month of July is 81.2mm. Motorists were asked to avoid the underpass at Stockman's Lane in Belfast due to high water levels. Cars were parked along the hard shoulder on the A1 near Dromore in Co Down and there were significant delays in both directions on the arterial route. In an amber warning covering every county of Northern Ireland except Fermanagh, the Met Office said the rain and thunder will ease from the south later this afternoon. Rainfall accumulations of up to 30mm in the hour and 60mm in three hours are likely in places, though many areas will see lower rainfall amounts. Flooding near Hilltown in Co Down also created long queues of traffic. Transport operator Translink cancelled some buses. The Met Office in Northern Ireland issued a severe weather warning, extended until 7pm this evening. Police warned of flooding on the A1 southbound, between Gowdystown Road and Banbridge, saying it was "passable with care, please avoid the area if possible and exercise extreme caution." Officers advised drivers to slow down and take care. A status yellow rainfall warning remains in place here, with downpours expected to affect the whole of Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Waterford. The Road Safety Authority has urged drivers to watch out for flash flooding and the risk of aquaplaning. The AA has reported very wet road conditions in parts of Wicklow, Meath, Mayo and Cavan. The rainfall brings to an end a heatwave which has left parts of the south and east badly affected by dwindling water supplies in the country's reservoirs. A hosepipe ban is still in place with water engineering experts believing the situation will remain "critical" up to and possibly beyond mid-August, Irish Water said.<doc-sep>Never miss a thing from Belfast and beyond - sign up for FREE newsletter direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice A Flood Relief Scheme is being activated after Northern Ireland was hit by heavy rainfall on Saturday. Around a month's worth of rain fell across the country yesterday causing havoc on the roads, flooding homes and businesses. Those living in domestic properties that were flooded on Saturday are being offered help of up to £1,000 through local councils, who will be administering the scheme. Rain-drenched roads saw motorists stuck in tailgates in a number of towns and cities. Antrim Castle Mall had to be evacuated after water poured through the roof. (Image: Ciara Mc Gettigan) While thousands of houses were left without power following a series of lightening strikes. The Met Office had issued an amber weather warning from 2-5pm for thunderstorms in parts of Northern Ireland on Saturday. Police across the region warned drivers of dangerous conditions and throughout the day advised them to avoid certain roads . (Image: Tina Winchester) Severe flooding hit the A1, part of Stockman’s Lane in South Belfast and numerous roads in Antrim. While one of the main routes from the M1 to Belfast International Airport was closed. (Image: Eamonn Loughlin) Police in Lisburn said: “Glenavy Road, Moira between the M1 Moira Roundabout and Station Road is currently closed due to severe flooding. “Please use alternative routes and allow additional time for your journey.” Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said they were called out to deal with a number of flooded properties and roads. They quickly cleared a flood at the Finaghy Road North at Orchardille and The Devenish Complex when it fell victim to heavy rainfall. And shoppers were evacuated from both Antrim Castle Mall and Tesco Antrim following flooding. An eye witness said: “Castle Mall is closed and evacuated. Tesco is closed as flooded, most roads too. “Antrim is at a standstill, Antrim show is on too and traffic is coming from it and blocking the whole town. The fire brigade was called to local businesses with flooding and are out in force.” In Ballyclare over 11,000 homes lost power because of a lightening strike just before 4pm. (Image: Selina Schofield) While thousands more homes and businesses in cities and towns including Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Larne, Magherafelt and Ballymena suffered cuts. A spokesperson for NIE Networks said: “Lightening struck in Ballyclare. In 11,000 homes power seemed to go off at 15.50 and was back on again at 16.21. “There was a cut in Derry and engineers are still working there. He added: “Predominantly it was lightening stirkes. Engineers are aiming to restore supply as soon as possible.” (Image: Marty Madoo) A yellow warning for rain remains in place until 3pm today, but the weather looks set to improve. The Met Office has forecast a dry day today, with brighter conditions in the west. They said: "Western counties will be dry with some good sunny spells through the day. Cloud and occasional rain further east, mainly County Down and East Antrim later this morning and early this afternoon. "Dry, bright weather then extending to all parts. Maximum temperature 18 °C." Tonight it is expected to be "dry with clear periods at first. Then becoming rather cloudy later tonight with a few showers breaking out. A breezy night with fresh southerly winds. Minimum temperature 12 °C". And Monday is predicted to be a "bright and breezy day with sunny spells". They added: "There will be a few showers during the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon with the odd heavier one possible. Maximum temperature 19 °C. (Image: Dylan McCullagh) From Tuesday to Thursday they are saying it will be "cloudy on Tuesday with rain, mainly in west and fresh southwesterly winds. Drier, brighter on Wednesday with lighter winds, then a little rain returning on Thursday". Keep up-to-date with all the very latest news, what's on, sport and everything else in Belfast and beyond with the Belfast Live app. Only select news that interests you by picking the topics you want to display on the app's homepage. 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Belfast has been hit with one month’s worth of rainfall in just one hour this afternoon. The Met Office said 88.2mm of rain was recorded at Belfast International Airport this afternoon, which is well over Northern Ireland’s July average of 81.2mm A ‘danger to life’ amber warning was issued across Northern Ireland, with forecasters saying damage to buildings from floods and lightning strikes is likely. Drivers struggling along flooded Stockmans Lane in Belfast after heavy rain (Picture: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker) Images coming in from Belfast shows roads swamped by the torrential downpours, with some brave drivers taking on the flooded streets. Meteorologist Sarah Kent said that, unlike thunderstorms in many other parts of the UK, those in Northern Ireland are as a result of low pressure, rather than directly related to the recent heatwave. Heavy, thundery showers are continuing in western areas as well as parts of Wales, the Met Office said, as changeable weather replaces the hot spell much of the UK has endured for weeks. ‘It’s a very unsettled weather picture across the whole of the UK,’ said Ms Kent. These two braved the downpour in Moira, County Down (Picture: David Hunter / Alamy Live News) The floods of Saintfield town centre in County Down (Picture: Arthur Allison Pacemaker) Short Ferry in Lincolnshire had 41.8mm of rainfall in one hour on Friday, nearing the county’s monthly July average of 55.8mm. The searing temperatures which had reached the mid-30s in southern parts of the UK have dropped, in some places by up to 10C. Saturday’s highs are expected to peak at 24C in central and southern England, 20C in Scotland, 19C in Wales and just 18C in Northern Ireland. Similarly cool weather is expected on Sunday, and a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is in place for Wales and southern England into the afternoon. Traffic was crawling at a snail’s pace through serious flooding in Belfast (Picture: Photopress Belfast) Wind speeds of up to 40mph inland are expected, and campers have been warned to take precautions. Ms Kent said: ‘The warning is in place particularly for holidaymakers who are out camping or towing their caravans, they are going to see some very strong gusts.’ Holidaymakers have been beset by delays and cancellations due to the extreme weather. A number of flights have been affected, and travellers have suffered long delays for ferries and cross-Channel trains. Singer Sir Tom Jones was forced to cancel a concert due to the wet weather. York Racecourse tweeted on Friday that the show had been called off because of the ‘thunder and lightning storms’.