More snow on way as temperatures plunge
SWATHES of Northern Ireland are facing ice and freezing fog as wintry weather continues to grip the province.
Temperatures are expected to drop as low as
-5C and will make driving conditions difficult this morning and throughout the day.
An ice warning has been issued for most parts of the the province.
Icy patches are expected to develop on untreated surfaces, pavements and cycle paths and where showers wash off treatment.
The Met Office has issued a warning for injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces. The chief forecaster said: “Showers of rain, sleet and snow are expected on Thursday morning, with snow most likely inland away from immediate coastal areas and over hills.
“The extent of ice will vary across the area with inland areas most prone whilst coastal areas exposed to the northerly winds are less likely to be affected.” Other parts of the UK have been plunged into a deep freeze with many commuters left facing travel misery and power outages.
A lorry crash on the M1 in Northampton closed all three southbound lanes and left traffic backed up in its wake, with a string of weather-related crashes scattered across the country.
The RAC said it saw a 15-20% spike in callouts compared with this time last year, including 12 relating to a pothole causing significant damage to vehicles on a section of the M25 around London.
Some of the worst traffic was on the southbound carriageway of the M1 near Lutterworth in Leicestershire which was closed after an accident involving a lorry.
There were similar stories of disruption, cancellations and delays at the country’s travel terminals, with Stansted Airport twice temporarily closing its runway due to ice.
Elsewhere, latest figures from Western Power Distribution and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks showed nearly 13,000 homes remained without electricity.