Snow and ice: Arctic blasts brings wintry weather to NI

Snow caused difficult driving conditions in some areas

Northern Ireland has seen its first big freeze of the year as a cold Arctic blast led to widespread wintery weather on Monday morning.

Snow showers, ice, fog, frosty nights and low daytime temperatures are all forecast in the coming days.

The Met Office issued a weather warning for snow and ice, which started at 03:00 GMT on Monday and is set to last until 11:00 on Tuesday.

Northerly winds are forecast to bring showers in from the north coast.

These will initially fall as snow over higher ground.

Sleet and rain is expected elsewhere but as colder air moves south across Ireland and the UK, snow showers will fall to some lower levels too.

The likes of the Glenshane Pass and the Coleraine Mountain are expected to get about 5cm of snow.

TrafficWatch NI reported that the salting of roads on the scheduled network would take place on Monday.

But the cold weather coincides with a period of mass industrial action.

Alan Perry of the GMB union told BBC News NI that gritting services, involving members of that union, would be suspended for a week as a result, beginning at 00:01 GMT on Thursday.

Snow lying in the Dundrod area of County Antrim on Monday

A few centimetres of snow can be expected in lower areas throughout the day, mainly in more northern counties.

However, due to the random nature of showers, not everywhere will get snow - most will manage to avoid it entirely.

• Why can it be so difficult to forecast snow?

Ice will then become an additional hazard for all counties into the evening.

A second warning for snow has been issued for the middle of the week.

The Met Office expects snow showers to move south during the day on Wednesday, continuing through the night and well into Thursday.

Several centimetres of snow is expected where the showers hit and possibly more where they become more organised.

Weather warnings have also been issued across parts of Great Britain.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads.

They advise those driving after freezing overnight temperatures to "reduce your speed, and increase your stopping distance from the vehicle in front".

North Belfast saw a dusting of snow on Monday morning

In the Republic of Ireland, a cold weather advisory has been issued across the whole country from 11:00 local time on Sunday until 12:00 on Friday.

The Irish weather service Met Éireann has warned of severe frosts, icy patches, and some sleet and snow - mainly for northern counties.

A yellow warning for low temperatures, ice, and snow showers has been issued for all counties from 19:00 on Sunday until 11:00 on Monday.

A separate warning for snow has been issued for County Donegal from 18:00 on Monday until 11:00 on Tuesday.

The chilly conditions could trigger cold weather payments of £25 for those on eligible benefits in Northern Ireland.

• What are cold weather payments and are you eligible?

The elevated Glenshane Pass in County Londonderry often attracts snowy weather

The money is automatically given to those who live in areas where the temperature is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.

The last time that happened was in November.