School closures and travel disruption due to ice

Snow and ice on the Isle of Man has led to the closure of all department of education schools and significant disruption to travel.

A fresh yellow warning for ice is now in force until midday on Tuesday, with forecasters warning that widespread icy stretches would once again form on untreated surfaces.

Schools and University College Isle of Man were closed for the day due to "hazardous conditions" and disruption to bus travel, however the facilities were expected to open as normal on Tuesday, the government said.

The Isle of Man Airport has been closed due to ice on the runway with all of Monday's flights to and from the island cancelled, and the A18 Mountain Road remains closed.

Bus Vannin said although all of its services had been suspended at first, most routes had now resumed.

However, there were still "difficulties" servicing some areas, including the Ballachrink Estate, Ballaughton Manor Hill, Glen Maye, Niarbyl, and the top part of Anagh Coar.

The Department of Infrastructure (DoI) said the A18 Mountain Road, which was closed between Ramsey and the Creg Ny Baa on Sunday due to the deteriorating conditions, would remain shut until midday on Tuesday, with a review due in the morning.

However, the route between the Creg-ny-Baa Hotel and Hillberry had reopened, and was "passable with care," while the Creg Ny Baa Back Road was fully open and had been treated with salt, the DoI said.

Teams had been "focusing on salting lower altitude arterial routes, bus routes, access routes to schools and medical facilities, together with other routes that are reported to be in problematic condition", the department said.

Old Laxey Hill was also closed to vehicles due to icy conditions, it added.

Residents were urged to allow themselves more time to travel and drive to suit the conditions.

Airport bosses said, despite de-icing treatment carried out on Sunday evening, conditions remained "challenging".

In a later update, they said snow remained across the runway, taxiway and apron, with icy conditions underneath, and as temperatures were "not expected to rise enough to allow effective melting, the runway remains unsuitable for aircraft operations."

Therefore, no flights would operate today, terminal facilities were limited, security was now closed and passengers should not travel to the airport and contact their airline directly, airport bosses added.

Patient transfer passengers were asked to contact their UK hospital to rearrange their appointment.

The government said the "uncertainty about the situation" at the Airport on Tuesday meant that there would be no patient transfers then either.

A number of other UK airports have also experienced closures and disruptions due to weather.

The government said people would still be seen at Noble's Hospital, but patients should only travel to appointments if it was safe to do so.

However, Manx Care has said that the free shuttle bus service between Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital and Noble's Hospital was not running on Monday due to the conditions, but was expected to resume on Tuesday.

People scheduled for essential renal or chemotherapy should still attend, the government said, but should call the hospital if they could not travel.

The Isle of Man Post Office has suspended deliveries, and the public counters at the Northern Delivery Office, Postal Headquarters and the Licensing Counter in the Isle of Man Business Park in Braddan have remained closed.

People have been asked to call ahead before visiting any post office counter on the island to check whether the facility has been able to open.

Outdoor facilities at the National Sports Centre have been closed until further notice, including the athletics track, the synthetic pitches, The Bowl and the cycling raceway.

Manx National Heritage said while the Manx Museum and House of Manannan had opened after a delay due to the conditions, the car parks at both sites remained closed.

An amber weather warning for ice, accompanied by wintry showers, had been in place from Sunday morning until midday on Monday.

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.