New Met Office warning for snow and ice comes into force in Northern Ireland

Danger to life flood warning in England
A danger to life flood warning is in place as dozens of people have been rescued by firefighters – and more rain, sleet and snow are on the way.
People living at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, have been urged to act now, with a large-scale evacuation required to save lives after heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt amid the Environment Agency’s severe flood warning for the River Soar.
One man was rescued from a caravan in Proctors Park, Barrow upon Soar, on a raft on Tuesday morning.
And two people had to be rescued from flood water by firefighters in Leicester Road, Leicester, on Monday afternoon, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said as of 6am on Tuesday, 59 people had been rescued – including the two in Leicester Road, who were attempting to walk through flood waters and lost their footing.
A spokesperson for the fire service said firefighters and paramedics attended as the people had to be rescued with a water raft and had sustained some injuries.
In North Yorkshire, police said the body of a man had been recovered on Monday from an area of flooding in Beal, near Eggborough and Knottingley.
Scores of flood warnings remain in place across England as fresh snow flurries hit London and Manchester on Tuesday morning.

A new weather warning for snow and ice has been issued by the Met Office.

It will be in place from 3pm today until noon tomorrow for all six counties of Northern Ireland and disruption to travel is expected.

Wintry showers of rain and sleet near coasts, and snow inland, will continue to affect Northern Ireland this afternoon and into this evening. Overnight, showers should become confined to coastal areas. 

With winds easing, it is likely to be a much colder night than last night, bringing widespread frost and icy patches.

People are advised to allow extra time for any journeys and to check for road closures.

If driving, make sure you have some essentials in your car in the event of any delays (e.g. warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).

The Met Office also says be prepared for weather warnings to change.

Emergency services are attending the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the A29 between Cookstown and Dungannon. It happened at the junction with the Sherrigrim Road this morning.

Update: The below has since been cleared to the hard shoulder

There has been a road traffic incident at the Junction 1 off-slip of the M22 north-bound. Road users are advised to approach with caution and be prepared to stop and give way until cleared.

A yellow alert for snow and ice from the Met Office remains in place for all six counties of Northern Ireland until 11am today.

Snow and icy patches may lead to some disruption to travel. Wintry showers will still be possible, more so over higher ground.

Salting of roads on the scheduled network considered to be at risk has taken place throughout the night and early morning, however road users are advised to exercise caution when travelling, particularly when driving on untreated roads. 

Although the alert officially ends at 11am, wintry weather will continues with a frosty evening, with temperatures as low as -3C and the possibility of further snow.

The outlook remains cold throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend, with more wintry showers on the way.

Just before 7am, the PSNI said in a statement: “Road users are advised to exercise caution due to icy roads throughout Northern Ireland. 

 

“Stopping distances increase greatly when weather conditions are poor, so slow down and leave a bigger gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.”

Earlier today, the Met Office forecast that snow showers would become more frequent across the north and west of Northern Ireland for a time this afternoon and evening – with up to 5cms on hills, especially the Sperrins.

Tomorrow is expected to see sunny spells and scattered wintry showers, with any possibility of snow contained to higher ground. It is set to feel bitterly cold, with a maximum temperature of 4C.

Belfast International Airport warned that there may be some delays to flights this evening while snow is cleared from the airfield.

The Coleraine Mountain area of Limavady is now passable, with care. Police are asking road users to continue exercising caution in the area.

This was the view on the A8 tonight, between Larne and Belfast, with several cars and lorries stuck.

As temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing tonight, the salting of roads on the scheduled network was planned to commence early this afternoon and continue overnight into Tuesday morning. Road users have been advised to exercise caution when travelling, particularly when driving on untreated roads.