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Travel disruption continues as NI cold snap persists

Pacemaker A white car makes its way up a narrow country road in County Antrim, which has a light dusting of snow. Two hedges can be seen on either side of the road and a house is visible in the background.Pacemaker
Some roads in Northern Ireland were impassable for a time on Tuesday due to icy conditions

Icy conditions are causing further travel disruption in Northern Ireland as temperatures plummeted overnight.

The Met Office said temperatures dropped to about -5C or -6C in inland areas.

A yellow warning for snow and ice came into force at 15:00 GMT on Tuesday and expires at midday on Wednesday.

Police have advised drivers to reduce speed as the cold snap continues to make roads hazardous.

A white car faces into a hedge at Claudy in Co Derry. Snow can be seen all around.
A car has come off the road at Claudy as police warn drivers to take care

There was widespread sharp frost overnight as well as icy patches, leading to a difficult morning commute on Wednesday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has asked drivers to "take extra care on the roads ... slow down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead".

Nigel McFarland An aeriel shot of the Glenshane pass in Northern Ireland. Snow covers the surrounding fields which the road bisects. Traffic can be seen on the roadNigel McFarland
Traffic was moving across the Glenshane Pass despite the weather on Tuesday

Translink has warned passengers that bus services will be subject to delay and disruption due to the weather.

A number of schools have closed for a second consecutive day.

Dungannon town centre covered in snow. a number of cars can be seen parked up, while a man walks across the road
Police described roads in Dungannon as impassable on Tuesday

The Met Office said further rain, sleet and some snow showers are expected later on Wednesday.

Shows Peter Eakin wearing a company coat, standing on the roadside with traffic in the background
Peter Eakin says people in some rural areas like Claudy feel let down by the 'lack of planning' for the snow

Claudy businessman, Peter Eakin, said there appeared to be a lack of proper planning for the conditions.

"Snow was forecast to come and we know that salting doesn't take away snow but there was ice on the road before the snow came and if the salters had gone out and given a wee bit of preparation, I think it would have made conditions a lot easier.

"There was no road service to be seen, the roads were blocked, there were vehicles stuck ... people, in general, just think the rural area is just forgotten about."

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said roads considered to be at risk had been salted overnight.

"However road users are advised to exercise caution when travelling, particularly when driving on untreated roads," the department added.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Wednesday, Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said there is an onus on the department to review how they prepare for a change in weather.

"I do recognise the department can't do every street, their criteria is based on traffic movement … but they could do more to look at where is most vulnerable and where most vulnerable people are."

He added: "It is barmy that one snow shower can bring this city (Derry) to a standstill."

Charmaine McNally and Cahill Quinn walking their dog fozzie in Claudy.
Fozzie the dog, pictured with owners Charmaine and Cahill, still needs a walk, regardless of the weather in Claudy

Despite the weather Charmaine McNally and Cahill Quinn were out walking their dog Fozzie in Claudy on Tuesday morning.

"It has to be done," said Cahill.

Pacemaker Two sheep in a field which is covered in light snow. Some green and brown shoots of grass can be seen in some patches on the ground. Pacemaker
Sheep in County Antrim were thankful for their thick woollen coats as the cold snap continues across Northern Ireland
Neil Thornton An icy Shipquay Street in Derry, cars are parked on wither side of the steep street, with a single pedestrian walking across the road. ice is clearly visible on the road.Neil Thornton
Some council services in Derry have been impacted

Belfast Zoo closed on Tuesday due to snow and ice, while in the north west and on the north coast a number of council services were disrupted including bin collections and recycling centres.

In Londonderry, council-owned cemeteries closed to visitors - except for funerals - as staff worked to clear ice and snow.

The City Cemetery in Derry remains closed to visitors on Wednesday.

In the Republic of Ireland most of the country is under a status orange ice and cold temperature warning for most of Wednesday.

Irish forecaster Met Éireann said it will be bitterly cold, with widespread frost, ice and patches of freezing fog.

Temperatures dropped to -5.7C overnight in County Cavan with Met Éireann warning temperatures could drop even further later.

Around 4,500 homes are without water and around 4,000 premises without power as the country's cold snap enters a fifth day.

Across the UK, flooding and heavy snow have caused chaos in some areas with major incidents being declared in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.

BBC Weather Watcher/Aisling A snowy street scene taken in Carrickmore, County Tyrone. Tyre tracks are visible on the road, fresh snow is fallingBBC Weather Watcher/Aisling
Snow falls in Carrickmore in County Tyrone

Who can get cold weather payments?

On Monday, it was confirmed that the recent wintry conditions had triggered cold weather payments in eight postcode areas in Northern Ireland.

The £25 payment is made to people living in areas where the temperature is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.

They will be paid to people living in the following postcodes in County Down:

  • BT24, 25, 26
  • BT30, 31, 32, 33, 34
Snow and ice on daffodils in a park in Dungannon. The grass is covered in a thin layer of snow. Trees are out of focus in the background and the sky is grey.
Cold weather payments have been triggered for eight postcode areas in Northern Ireland