Snow and ice warning for Saturday evening

The Met Office has issued a warning for snow and ice across parts of Northern Ireland from 17:00 to 22:00 (GMT) on Saturday.

Rain moving in from the west on Saturday afternoon is expected to turn to snow for a time across parts of Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry.

There may be a brief period of disruption particularly over higher ground with accumulations of 2-4 cm possible over hills above around 200m. Drivers on high level roads such as the Glenshane Pass and the Coleraine Mountain Road may experience difficulties.

Any accumulations at lower levels will be very localised and temporary.

The wintry mix of rain, sleet and hill snow will turn back to rain again at all levels later tonight as milder air moves in and will clear through the early hours.

Much of the lying snow will melt before Sunday morning.

The rain will be accompanied by a short spell of very strong winds with gales in some coastal areas, especially the east coast.

Southerly winds will gust close to 60 mph along some exposed parts of the county Down coastline before reducing again by Sunday morning.

Snow and ice warnings have also been issued by Met Eireann across counties Donegal, Cavan, Connaught and Longford from 12:00 on Saturday to 00:00 on Sunday.