Sun rising over Slemish in the snow. Image captured on 31st December 2020 by Lauren Bleakly.
The Met Office have issued an update on the weather warning for snow and ice expected to impact Northern Ireland as the new week begins.
The yellow weather warning now starts from 3:00am tomorrow morning Monday 15th January and has been extended until 9:00am on Tuesday 16th.
The Met Office says showers on Sunday night are expected to increasingly fall as snow into Monday morning, bringing the possibility of some disruption to parts of Northern Ireland.
Map show areas covered by yellow weather warning and expected to be impacted by snow and ice as week begins.
Brisk northerly winds will drive showers well inland across Northern Ireland on Monday, with these initially falling as snow over higher ground and sleet and rain elsewhere. However, as increasingly cold air spreads south, showers will fall as snow to all levels by late morning.
Up to 5 cm of snow is likely over higher routes such as the Coleraine Mountain road and Glenshane Pass. At lower levels, a few cms can be expected, with northern counties expected to see the more frequent showers. Ice will be an additional hazard for all areas into the evening.
Second weather warning for snow
A second yellow weather warning has been issued for snow as the week goes on. The Met Office advises "frequent snow showers are likely to cause further disruption to travel during Wednesday and Thursday".
The second warning is effective from 12am on Wednesday 17th January until 11:59pm on Thursday 18th.
Map showing areas expected to be impacted by weather warning for snow including, Counties Antrim, Londonderry, and Tyrone.
A Met Office spokesperson commented:
"The heaviest and most frequent snow showers will be across northern Scotland during Wednesday morning, before developing across parts of southwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England and Wales later in the day.
"Snow showers are likely to continue during Wednesday night and well into Thursday. Whilst accumulations will vary due to the nature of showers, 2-5 cm of snow is expected in many places. Where showers become more organised, there is a chance some low-lying areas could see 10 cm in a few hours.
"Across northern Scotland over 20 cm of snow could build up in a few locations."