Skip to content

Sports fixtures cancelled and zoo closed amid weather warnings for snow and ice

Barra Best,Senior weather presenterand
Niall Glynn,BBC News NI
News imageBBC A man walks along the snowy summit of Cavehill. Footprints are visible in the snowBBC
Snow on the top of Cavehill in north Belfast

A new weather warning is in effect for Northern Ireland.

The yellow warning for snow and ice will last until midday on Monday.

The Met Office is warning that snow showers will affect many parts of Northern Ireland over the weekend, bringing some disruption to travel.

Previously County Fermanagh had been excluded from the weather warning, but that decision has now been reversed.

News imagePacemaker A white car is travelling on a snow covered road in the countryside. There are bar trees and bushes on both sides of the road. Pacemaker
Snow falling heavily in the Glens of Antrim on Saturday

Many are already facing closures and disruption as a result of the cold weather.

Belfast City Council have said they will close Belfast Zoo this weekend, with the added possibility of playground closures, due to icy conditions.

In County Tyrone, the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory in Omagh has been closed, with a spokesperson saying that access to the site is expected to become increasingly difficult as the day progresses.

Saturday's GAA fixture between Tyrone and Fermanagh has also had to been postponed.

In the Irish League, Ballymena United's home game against Glenavon and the game between Portadown and Cliftonville at Shamrock Park have been called off following pitch inspections.

News imagePacemaker A country lane covered in snow runs through the middle of stone walls and fields. Slemish mountain is in the top right of the picture Pacemaker
An icy scene near Slemish mountain in County Antrim

Untreated surfaces are likely to become icy, increasing the risk of slips and falls.

Met Eireann, the Met Office counterpart in Ireland, issued a yellow weather warning for County Donegal from 20:00 GMT on Friday, extending across the whole country on Saturday and Sunday.

News imageFAMILY HANDOUT Two small boys stand either side of a white snowman. The snow man has black buttons for eyes and an orange carrot for a nose. The boy to the snowman's' right is wearing a green coat, orange hat and black gloves. The other boy wears a brown coat and grey hat with navy gloves and black trousers. The sky behind them is partially clear and blue. There is a brown-leaved bush behind the boys.FAMILY HANDOUT
Brothers Dan and Leo in Carland, County Tyrone

The cold weekend comes hot on the heels of Northern Ireland's coldest night this winter, with a very frosty start to New Year's Eve.

In Katesbridge, County Down temperatures as low as -7C were recorded.

The Met Office said: "Cold northerly winds will bring sleet and snow showers across much of Northern Ireland on Friday afternoon, overnight and into Saturday morning, bringing the likelihood of ice on untreated surfaces.

"Whilst many places, including most low-lying areas, will not see much in the way of snow accumulations, a centimetre or two is possible in places, with the potential for 2-5 cm on higher routes such as the Glenshane Pass."

News imageWeather watcher Ian A lane is covered in white snow and runs from top to bottom of the frame. There is a dark bricked cottage to the left of the lane and a green and brown hedge to the right, which runs parallel to the road. There is a grey barn behind the cottage The sky is blue and partially cloudy.Weather watcher Ian
A small cottage near Ballymena, County Antrim

Heaviest snow in north

It added: "Snow showers will continue to affect many parts of Northern Ireland over the weekend, before gradually easing on Monday.

"The heaviest and most frequent snow showers will be in the north, although along the north coast these may fall as rain or sleet at times.

"Whilst not all locations in the warning areas will see snow, around 1-3 cm is expected to have fallen in many places by Monday morning, with the potential for 5-10 cm to build up in a few locations, especially over higher routes, such as Glenshane Pass.

"Ice will be an additional hazard for many."

The police have advised motorists to pay "due care and attention" on the roads and be able to adapt to changing conditions.

"Even the most experienced drivers can find themselves getting into difficulties when the roads are icy," a spokesperson said.

"Ask yourself whether your journey is really necessary."

News imageNigel McFarland The picture shows the Glenshane Pass which with snow and ice on the fields beside the roadNigel McFarland
The Met Office says there is the potential for 2-5 cm of snow on higher routes such as the Glenshane Pass over the weekend

Republic of Ireland warnings

Yellow warnings for snow, ice and low temperatures have also been issued across the Republic of Ireland.

Irish weather service Met Éireann has warned of hazardous travel conditions over the weekend.

A yellow alert for snow and ice is in place for Counties Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, & Connacht until 11:00 on Monday.

Wintry showers are expected, with some snow accumulation possible, along with poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.

A separate yellow warning for low temperatures and ice has been issued for a wide area, with the thermometer expected to drop to between -2C and -5C.

That warning lasts from 17:00 on Sunday until 11:00 on Monday.