Barra Best,Senior weather presenterand
Niall Glynn, News NI
A new weather warning will come into effect for Northern Ireland at midday on Saturday.
The yellow warning for snow and ice will last until midday on Monday.
The Met Office is warning that snow showers will affect many parts of Northern Ireland over the weekend, bringing some disruption to travel.
Previously County Fermanagh had been excluded from the weather warning, but that decision has now been reversed.
PacemakerMany are already facing closures and disruption as a result of the cold weather.
Belfast City Council have said they will close Belfast Zoo this weekend, with the added possibility of playground closures, due to icy conditions.
In County Tyrone, the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory in Omagh has been closed, with a spokesperson saying that access to the site is expected to become increasingly difficult as the day progresses.
Saturday’s GAA fixture between Tyrone and Fermanagh has also had to been postponed.
Untreated surfaces are likely to become icy, increasing the risk of slips and falls.
Met Eireann, the Met Office counterpart in Ireland, issued a yellow weather warning for County Donegal from 20:00 GMT on Friday, extending across the whole country on Saturday and Sunday.
FAMILY HANDOUTThe cold weekend comes hot on the heels of Northern Ireland’s coldest night this winter, with a very frosty start to New Year’s Eve.
In Katesbridge, County Down temperatures as low as -7C were recorded.
The Met Office said: “Cold northerly winds will bring sleet and snow showers across much of Northern Ireland on Friday afternoon, overnight and into Saturday morning, bringing the likelihood of ice on untreated surfaces.
“Whilst many places, including most low-lying areas, will not see much in the way of snow accumulations, a centimetre or two is possible in places, with the potential for 2-5 cm on higher routes such as the Glenshane Pass.”
Weather watcher IanHeaviest snow in north
It added: “Snow showers will continue to affect many parts of Northern Ireland over the weekend, before gradually easing on Monday.
“The heaviest and most frequent snow showers will be in the north, although along the north coast these may fall as rain or sleet at times.
“Whilst not all locations in the warning areas will see snow, around 1-3 cm is expected to have fallen in many places by Monday morning, with the potential for 5-10 cm to build up in a few locations, especially over higher routes, such as Glenshane Pass.
“Ice will be an additional hazard for many.”
The police have advised motorists to pay “due care and attention” on the roads and be able to adapt to changing conditions.
“Even the most experienced drivers can find themselves getting into difficulties when the roads are icy,” a spokesperson said.
“Ask yourself whether your journey is really necessary.”
Nigel McFarlandRepublic of Ireland warnings
Yellow warnings for snow, ice and low temperatures have also been issued across the Republic of Ireland.
Irish weather service Met Éireann has warned of hazardous travel conditions over the weekend.
A yellow alert for County Donegal lasts from 20:00 local time on Friday until 11:00 on Saturday.
Wintry showers are expected, with some snow accumulation possible, along with poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.
A separate yellow warning for low temperatures and ice has been issued for a wide area, with the thermometer expected to drop to between -2C and -4C.
That warning lasts from 18:00 on Saturday until 11:00 on Sunday.
In addition, a further yellow warning for snow and ice covering Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Connacht, and Louth lasts from 18:00 on Saturday until 11:00 on Sunday.
