Skip to content

New yellow warning of ice takes effect in NI

PA Media A woman is wearing a white knit hat, a long black puffer coat and black leggings and she walks her black and white dog Bonnie in a park in Portglenone. There are green gates in the background and in the foreground is a small amount of snow on the grass.PA Media
Sinead McMullan and her dog Bonnie woke up to a dusting of snow in Portglenone on Thursday

A yellow warning for ice is in place for four counties in Northern Ireland.

The Met Office issued the alert, which took effect at 16:00 GMT on Friday and lasts until 10:00 on Saturday.

The warning applies to counties Antrim, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone.

There was widespread frost and a warning for ice and slippery surfaces on Friday morning, with Katesbridge in County Down recording the coldest temperature on the island of Ireland at -6C (21.2F).

Weather Watcher Ian A road, covered in snow with tyre tracks down the middle. There are trees and bushes on either side of the road. Weather Watcher Ian
Ballymena in County Antrim has also experienced icy conditions

The Met Office said icy surfaces could lead to difficult travel conditions and slips and falls could lead to injuries.

There is also a significant risk of snow falling in parts of Northern Ireland overnight Saturday into Sunday morning.

The exact track of the low-pressure area as it slides east across Ireland and pushes north will determine where any disruptive snow falls and due to that uncertainty a weather warning for snow has not yet been issued.

Weather models are still at odds with how far north into Northern Ireland this weather system will get.

NI Water A reservoir with water that looks frozen. Snow covered trees care in the background.NI Water
Naimh McElroy, from NI Water, said water can look "frozen" but it's important to take "care"

The Met Office says "a more targeted weather warning" may yet be issued, possibly on Saturday morning.

"There is still a lot to play for and if we do end up with a snow Sunday there should still be time to get the main road network treated for Monday morning," it said.

At this stage, the latest data suggest 3-6cm of snow falling mainly across southeastern areas.

'Risk of someone drowning'

Naimh McElroy, from NI Water, said people should take "extra care" around waterways during the cold snap.

Reservoirs and loughs can "look frozen but if they freeze over it's impossible to tell how thick the ice is," she said.

She warned that "ice can be thin in places" and "there is a very real risk of someone drowning."

"Dog owners also need to remember to keep four legged friends on a lead if they are being walked near reservoirs and other bodies of open water," she added.

In the Republic of Ireland, an orange warning for snow and ice has been issued for six counties, with significant snowfall expected.

The warning will be in place from 17:00 local time on Saturday until 17:00 on Sunday for counties Carlow, Clare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary and Wicklow.

Irish weather service Met Éireann said there would be severe frost and hazardous travelling conditions in some areas.

Sports fixtures could also be affected by the weather, with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) saying it would be monitoring the condition of playing surfaces over the weekend.

How to drive safely on ice

Getty Images A person holds a black and yellow ice scraper as they work to remove ice from a car window.Getty Images

The Met Office has said it is safer not to drive in icy conditions, but recommends a number of precautions that drivers should take it if is necessary:

  • Looking well ahead for potential hazards and keep your speed down
  • Accelerating, braking, steering and changing gear as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of a skid
  • Using a higher gear may be more appropriate to help grip on packed ice
  • Using a higher gear helps manage engine power making it easier to find traction

The service also urged cyclists to stick to main roads, which are more likely to have been treated, and for all road users to leave more time to complete their journey.

As the cold weather continues, NI Water, external has reminded the public to be aware of the risk of frozen pipes, as they pose a risk to properties and possessions.

Advice includes wrapping your pipes and water tanks up, fixing dripping taps, knowing how to turn off your property's stop tap, checking your central heating boiler has been serviced and leaving the heating on low if you are going away.