New warning for ice and wintry showers issued as more than a dozen schools closed

It is set to last from 4pm today until 10am tomorrow, and will be in force across Co Antrim, Co Down, Co Londonderry and Co Tyrone.

The Met Office has said that the continuing adverse conditions could lead to some disruption to travel.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Scattered wintry showers on Thursday evening will slowly fade overnight, leading to the risk of icy patches on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall below freezing.

“Isolated snow accumulations of 2-4 cm will be possible, more especially in Wales on hills above 150m elevation.”

The coldest weather is yet to come, with forecasters predicting that tonight could see the mercury drop to its lowest point of 2025 yet.

Temperatures in the Scottish Highlands are expected to drop as far as -20C, but in Northern Ireland, it is thought that tonight will see -6C at its worst.

The lowest temperature recorded overnight here over this new year period was -6.9C at Katesbridge near Banbridge on Tuesday, into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

This morning and afternoon will be very similar to yesterday, with sunny spells and wintry showers in the north, and highs of 2C expected again.

Then temperatures will recover into the weekend, with milder air moving in from the west.

“Please don’t leave your car unattended whilst the engine is running to defrost windows.”

Police are also asking road users to ensure their windscreen is clear before driving and to take caution on icy roads.

The alert is in place from 5pm today until 9am tomorrow morning.

Freezing fog is expected to become more extensive and thicken across Northern Ireland this evening and overnight, with visibility falling to less than 100 m in places. Once formed the fog may well persist into Thursday morning. Some icy patches will also develop on untreated surfaces bringing an additional hazard.

In Belfast this evening, thick fog is already reducing visibility in these areas in particular:

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

In a statement a spokesperson for the PSNI in north Belfast said: 
“We have been out on patrol overnight focusing on anti-burglary patrols.  
“Please don’t leave your car unattended whilst the engine is running to defrost windows.”

The PSNI have also asked road users to ensure their windscreen is clear before driving and to take caution on icy roads. 

Delays can still be expected on the following routes: 

Elsewhere, there are significant delays in both directions in Whiteabbey with the Shore Road down to one lane.

Frost and patchy fog are still expected across the rest of the week, with some snow followed by clouds and patchy rain later Friday or Saturday.

The weekend should then see temperatures begin to rise, with highs up up to 12 degrees expected by the start of next week.