A new weather warning is in place in Northern Ireland as freezing temperatures cause chaos across the UK.
The original yellow alert for snow and ice is in effect until 6pm today but the Met Office’s latest warning for ice will be in place from midnight until 11am on Monday.
Between 5-10 cm of snow is possible over the Mournes, Sperrins and Antrim Hills, with lighter dustings elsewhere, on Sunday the Met Office said.
Monday’s yellow warning for ice said to expect icy stretches developing during the early hours of the morning, bringing some disruption – especially to travel.
However, Northern Ireland appears to have escaped the worst of the weather seen elsewhere.
Across the UK, heavy overnight snow has caused disruption.
The Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, had seen 12cm of snow up to 7am on Sunday, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm.
Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon Airport closed their runways for several hours on Sunday morning due to heavy snow.
Manchester Airport said delays to some departures and arrivals are still possible as staff de-ice aircraft and clear walkways.
Leeds Bradford Airport said it was hoping to re-open its runway at midday but this was subject to change.
Birmingham Airport had suspended operations for several hours overnight “for snow clearing and safety reasons”, but said it was on schedule for “business as usual” on Sunday.
Bristol Airport reopened at about 11pm on Saturday but warned of ongoing delays because aircraft were out of position following flight cancellations.
All the affected airports urged passengers to check with their airline for updates.
Liverpool City Council’s safety advisory group is meeting this morning to decide whether today’s Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United can go ahead.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4.30pm at Anfield. However, Liverpool is covered by an amber weather warning for snow and ice that will remain in place until at least midday.
Liverpool FC said they expect the game to go ahead.
The club said: “A safety meeting was held this morning to assess the weather and travel conditions for today’s fixture against Manchester United at Anfield.
“At this stage the match is planned to go ahead as normal and every effort is being made to get the game on.
“A further safety meeting will take place again at midday to assess the latest conditions.”
The latest weather warning covers all six Northern Ireland counties.
The Met Office said: “Spells of rain, sleet and snow will develop from the south late on Saturday before clearing through Sunday.
“Coastal areas will likely see rain, but inland and over higher ground, sleet and snow is more likely.
“Locally 1-3 cm of snow is possible away from coasts, with 5-10 cm possible over the Mournes, Sperrins and Antrim Hills.
“Ice will be an additional hazard, especially on untreated surfaces.”
Larger snowfall is expected at higher grounds
The Met Office said there is likely to be disruption to transport and some infrastructure.
It added that some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
There is also a warning of some icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and the risk of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.
It comes as many workers return and schools reopen tomorrow after the Christmas break.
Temperatures plummet to minus 5C overnight as cold snap continues to grip UK
The Met Office has cautioned commuters of a “fairly considerable ice risk” in place, with a particular focus on rural areas.
They advised those travelling to give themselves extra time due to the more hazardous conditions.
The latest Met Office forecast for Sunday predicts cloudy conditions with outbreaks of rain, mostly over Antrim and Down, falling as snow over higher ground and dying out during afternoon. It will be drier and brighter in west with a maximum temperature of 4C.
Tonight will bring clear periods with a few wintry showers, developing more widely later in the night. It will be a cold night with a risk of ice and a minimum temperature of -1C.
Monday will be rather cloudy with scattered sleet and snow showers but mostly rain near the north coast. The maximum temperature will be 4C.
Altnaheglish reservoir
In the Irish Republic, around 28,000 premises are without power as a result of adverse weather conditions, according to ESB Networks.
The figure, which is accurate as of 8.30am, mainly consists of homes, farms and businesses in counties Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois and Wicklow.
There was significant snowfall overnight, particularly in Munster and southern Leinster.
Met Éireann has forecast temperatures will struggle to get above freezing before Thursday.