NI weather: Motorists warned only to make essential journeys

A Met Office warning is in place for all of Wednesday

Only "essential journeys" should be made on Northern Ireland's roads on Thursday due to cold weather and limited gritting, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has said.

It said roads would be hazardous, with limited gritting due to planned strike action.

Police are also urging motorists to lower their speed and be cautious.

It comes as Northern Ireland experienced its coldest day in more than a year.

Temperatures did not rise above -2C in some areas.

Met Office warnings for snow and ice are in place for the rest of the day on Wednesday and all day on Thursday.

'Extreme caution'

"The road network will be hazardous for travel due to widespread icy conditions and will not have been gritted apart from some limited gritting on the M1 and M2 motorways, the A1 and the A4," a DfI spokesperson said.

"Roads leading to the limited salted part of the network will not be treated, so extreme caution will be required for anyone travelling tomorrow on any part of the road network."

Snow fell overnight in Londonderry

Provisionally, the weather station at Altnahinch filters didn't record a temperature above -2.4C on Wednesday afternoon.

The last time it was the cold was on the 12 December 2022 when a number of weather stations didn't get above -2C.

Coincidentally, the County Antrim station also recorded the lowest overnight temperature anywhere on the whole island of Ireland on Tuesday night with a low of -6.6C.

It is likely to be just as cold on Wednesday night with a widespread frost developing.

Another weather warning for ice on Friday was issued by the Met Office on Wednesday afternoon.

It comes into force at 00:00 GMT on Friday and lasts until 10:00.

Milder, but much more unsettled weather will move in at the weekend with the potential for some stormy conditions.

Forecasted strong winds have resulted in a wind warning being issued for Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Along with heavy rainfall, gusts of wind up to 100km/h (60mph) can be expected in some inland areas, while coasts and exposed areas could get speeds up to 115km/h (70mph).

Cemeteries across the north west were closed on Wednesday morning

Translink said bus services in Magherafelt and Coleraine had been affected by poor weather conditions, with delays and disruption expected.

Oakgrove Integrated College in Londonderry said "despite its best efforts" it was unable to open on Wednesday morning.

Pupils were asked to work from home.

There were several centimetres of snow at City of Derry Airport

Derry City and Strabane District Council said some of its services were also affected on Wednesday morning.

The council's cemeteries at Ballyoan, Altnagelvin, Strabane and the City Cemetery in Derry were closed for a time but have since reopened, while bin collections were also expected to be affected.

• In pictures: Snow blankets parts of Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland weather forecast

"Householders are advised to leave out their bins as normal and council will endeavour to service them when it is safe to do so," a spokeswoman said.

Weather warnings have also been issued across parts of Great Britain in the coming days.

In the Republic of Ireland, Met Éireann has warned of severe frost and icy stretches on the roads on Wednesday morning.

Several centimetres of snow also fell in parts of Northern Ireland on Tuesday morning

Gardai (Irish police) say main routes are passable with care, and are advising motorists to slow down and allow extra time for their journeys.

A separate alert for snow is in place for counties Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo