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Wind and rain warnings for NI cancelled as cold spell ends

Barra BestSenior weather presenter, BBC News NI
News imageGetty Images A multi-coloured umbrella is bent in the wind. A person in a black coat is holding it. They are outside, the background is a grass area with bare trees. Getty Images
The Met Office said it will still be windy on Sunday evening, but any impacts are expected to be localised.

A rain warning for Northern Ireland has been cancelled as the recent cold spell comes to an end.

The Met Office yellow alert was due to be in place from 21:00 GMT on Saturday until 21:00 on Sunday.

Further rain is expected this afternoon and evening, but the Met Office says the likelihood of disruption has decreased.

A yellow warning for strong winds has also been cancelled, it was in place for Antrim, Down, Londonderry, and Tyrone, from midnight on Saturday until 21:00 GMT on Sunday.

News imageBBC Weather Watcher Fernisky Sun shines out of a blue sky with white clouds over grass ground covered with some white snow in Kells, County AntrimBBC Weather Watcher Fernisky
The sun shines bright against a snowy backdrop in Kells, County Antrim

A further wind warning, due to come into force for Antrim, Derry, and Tyrone from 21:00 on Sunday until midday on Monday, has also been cancelled.

The Met Office said it will still be windy in Northern Ireland on Sunday evening, but any impacts are expected to be localised.

Wind warnings for Irish coastline

In the Republic of Ireland, wind warnings remain in place around the entire coastline on Sunday.

Irish Weather service, Met Éireann, has warned that it will be very windy with strong and gusty southwesterly winds.

This could lead to large coastal waves, some fallen trees, and travel disruption.

Coldest night this winter

News imageJohn O'Neill Small circles of white ice formed in a river. The ice is floating as a cluster in the dark water. John O'Neill
So-called ice pancakes were spotted on the Ballinderry River in County Tyrone

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland had its coldest night of winter, so far, on Friday night, when temperatures fell to -7C.

It was recorded at the weather station at Katesbridge in County Down, which often reports the lowest temperature across the island.

The hamlet sits in a frost hollow where, in the winter, cold air builds up to allow it to become so cold.

In County Tyrone, rare "ice pancakes" were spotted on the Edenderry River on Saturday morning.

They are caused by the freezing of foam floating on a river's surface.

News imageMaria McSorley Three deer are playing in a snow covered enclosure. One of the deep appears to be slipping on a frozen puddle. In the background there is a feeder filled with straw. There are some large rushes in shot as well. There is a fence at the very back of the photo. Maria McSorley
Deer were spotted "skating" in Gortin Glen Forest Park, County Tyrone, on Saturday morning

What is the coldest it's been in Northern Ireland?

The lowest temperature ever recorded in NI was -18.7C at Castlederg in Tyrone during the big freeze of December 2010.

The lowest temperature ever recorded on the island of Ireland was -19.1C at Markree in Sligo in January 1881.

When does winter end?

The answer is simple.

It depends on which calendar you follow - ancient Celtic or Irish, meteorological, or astronomical.

The ancient Celtic calendar, also known as the Gaelic or Irish calendar, dates back centuries and is still followed by many in Ireland today.

It marks the winter season in November, December and January, with spring starting on 1 February - or St Brigid's Day.

The meteorological calendar is also grouped into three full months but the seasons begin a month later with December, January and February making up the winter season.

However, the astronomical calendar seasons are defined by two solstices and two equinoxes.

These are determined by Earth's tilt and the sun's position over the equator.

The winter season starts on the winter solstice, around 21 December, and ends on the spring equinox, around 20 March.