Northern Ireland braces for Continued Disruption as ice and Snow grip Region
Northern Ireland is facing ongoing disruption as a new weather warning for ice comes into effect, following a day of widespread school closures and travel chaos caused by snow and freezing temperatures. The Met Office’s latest alert, valid from 5:00 PM Monday until 10:00 AM Tuesday, warns of sub-zero temperatures and the potential for hazardous conditions on untreated surfaces, particularly where showers have fallen.
Widespread Disruption on Monday
An earlier yellow warning for snow and ice triggered important disruption across Northern ireland on Monday, impacting transportation and education. More than 200 schools were forced to close their doors, and over 100 have already confirmed closures for Tuesday, with a comprehensive list available [here](link to school closures list – placeholder). The challenging conditions prompted urgent warnings from authorities for motorists and pedestrians alike.
“clear your windscreen of ice and snow before you set off on your journey, and remember to slow down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead,” urged the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Despite the challenging conditions, authorities are working to mitigate the impact. Simon Wells from the Northern Ireland Road Service confirmed that crews have been engaged in “virtually round-the-clock salting of roads.” While salted roads are passable with care, motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
“People need to drive over the grit for it to properly activate,” Wells explained. He noted that even on dual carriageways, some lanes may remain covered in snow due to limited traffic. The Road Service prioritizes roads carrying more than 1,500 vehicles per day – roughly 28% of the network, representing 80% of all traffic. Each gritting run costs over £100,000,and crews are prepared to continue operations throughout the night and into Tuesday morning,deploying over 100 lorries. Wells emphasized the dedication of the gritting crews, many of whom worked through the Christmas holidays.
Travel Chaos Continues
The adverse weather has led to significant disruptions to air and public transportation. At Belfast City Airport, flights to and from destinations including Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Amsterdam, and Inverness faced cancellations on Monday. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines or the airport website for the latest updates. The runway at City of Derry Airport reopened on Monday morning following snow and ice clearance, but passengers traveling to London Heathrow were still advised to contact their airline.
Translink bus services have also been impacted, with several routes in magherafelt, Lisburn, Armagh, Londonderry, and Cookstown operating on treated main roads only. Train services between ballymena and Ballymoney are suspended due to a fault, with disruption expected to continue. Several train services, including those to Coleraine and Londonderry, were also cancelled.
Local Councils Respond
Local councils are also adjusting services in response to the weather. Derry City and Strabane Council has suspended household bin collections, while Belfast City Council has closed Belfast Zoo. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has cancelled bin collections in Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne.
Looking Ahead: Regional Snowfall Patterns & Historical Extremes
Northern Ireland’s mountainous regions – the Sperrins, Antrim Plateau, and mournes – typically experience the highest snowfall, with some areas receiving over 35 days of sleet or snow annually. Coastal areas, however, see substantially less snow, usually fewer than five days a year with lying snow. Remarkable winters, such as those in 1962/63 and 1981/82, brought heavy snowfall even to coastal regions.The lowest temperature ever recorded in Northern Ireland was -18.7C at Castlederg in Tyrone during the December 2010 freeze, while the all-island record stands at -19.1C, recorded at Markree in Sligo in January 1881.
As the region braces for another night of freezing temperatures and potential ice formation, residents are urged to exercise extreme caution and heed the advice of authorities..
