Amber warning now covering the whole of Northern Ireland

The Met Office has issued new warnings for snow which could lead to mass travel disruption and even power cuts over the next 24 hours.

Met Office
Author: Naomi HollandPublished 16th Jan 2018
Last updated 16th Jan 2018

The current amber warning has now been extended to cover the whole of Northern Ireland

Forecasters say heavy, squally showers of snow will continue through the night and over the hills it will drift in strong to gale force winds.

It should ease off slightly by breakfast tomorrow , but the wintry weather warnings remain in place now until at least Thursday morning.

Met Office

The warning from the Met Office says widespread disruption is possible:

"Between 15:00 Tue 16th and 08:00 Wed 17th

"Heavy, squally showers of snow will continue through Tuesday and Tuesday night, with longer spells of snow for a time, especially on Tuesday evening. Over the hills, snow will drift in the strong to gale force winds.

"A gradual improvement is likely on Wednesday for most areas. Travel delays on roads are likely, as are public transport cancellations, and some vehicles may become stranded, more especially on higher routes.

"There is a chance of power cuts, while services such as mobile phone coverage may be affected. Some rural communities seem likely to become cut off. In addition roads and pavements will turn icy, increasing the chances of accidents or injuries."

A number of schools are also set to close tomorrow -

North Eastern region schools

Longstone Primary School, 82 Carnearney Road, BT42 2PN

Ballyclare Primary School, Doagh Road, BT39 9BG

Doagh Primary School, 20 Main Street, BT39 0QL

Moyle Primary School, 18 Sallagh Park, BT40 1NS

Linn Primary School, 70-74 Killyglen Road, BT40 2HT

Carnmoney Primary School, Carnmoney Road, BT36 6JS

Mossgrove Primary School, Swanston Road, BT36 8DN

Toreagh Primary School, 62 Raloo Road, BT40 3DU

Hazelbank Primary School, 20 Hazelbank Road, BT42 4LP

Tir-Na-Nog Primary School, Doagh Road, BT39 9BG

St Bernard's Primary School Newtownabbey, Elmfield Road, BT36 6DW

St Mary's on the Hill Primary School, 142 Carnmoney Road, BT36 6JU

Gaelscoil an Chaistil, 5 Bothar na hAithe, BT54 6QQ

Gaelscoil/NaĂ­-Aonad an tSeanchai, 40 Meeting Street, BT45 6BW

Mallusk Controlled Integrated Primary School, Mallusk,

St Patrick's College, Ballymena, Broughshane Road, BT43 7DZ

Edmund Rice College, 96-100 Hightown Road, BT36 7AU

Hillcroft Special School, Manse Way, BT36 5UW

Cambridge House Grammar School, Cambridge Avenue, BT42 2E

South Eastern region schools

Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School, 1a Killultagh Road, BT28 2NX

Ballynahinch Primary School, Croob Park, BT24 8BB

Cairnshill Primary School, 6a Cairnshill Drive, BT8 6RT

Spa Primary School, 59 Ballymaglave Road, BT24 8QB

St Patrick's Primary School Ballynahinch, Main Street, BT24 8DN

St Aloysius' Primary School, Ballinderry Road, BT28 1TB

St Ita's Primary School, Alderwood Hill, BT8 4YY

Drumlins Integrated Primary School, 43 Lisburn Road, BT24 8TT

The High School, Ballynahinch, 103 Belfast Road, BT24 8EH

ST. COLMCILLE'S HIGH SCHOOL, 1 Killyleagh Road, BT30 9EY

St Colman's High and Sixth Form College, 52 Crossgar Road, BT24 8XR

Knockevin Special School, 29 Racecourse Hill, BT30 6P

Southern region schools

Cortamlet Primary School, 19 Cortamlet Road, BT35 0EE

St Mary's Primary School Barr, 3 School Road, BT34 1SX

Fair Hill Primary School Kinallen, 4 Tullynisky Road, BT25 2PJ

St Paul's Primary School Cabra, 35 Ballykeel Road, BT34 5RH

St Mary's Primary School Rathfriland, Downpatrick Street, BT34 5DQ

St Mary's Primary School Dechomet, 6 Closkelt Road, BT31 9QE

St Patrick's Primary School Derrynaseer, 3 Aghalee Road, BT67 0AR

St Joseph's Primary School Bessbrook, 28 Convent Hill, BT35 7AW

Newtownhamilton High School, 9 Armagh Road, BT35 0DG

Newry High School, 23 Ashgrove Road, BT34 1QN

St Patrick's College Banbridge, Scarva Road, BT32 3AS

St Paul's High School, 108 Camlough Road, Bessbrook, BT35 7EE

Rathore School, 9 Martin's Lane, BT35 8HJ

Our Lady's Grammar School, Chequer Hill, Newry, BT35 6DY

St Colman’s College, 46 Armagh Road, BT35 6PP

Sacred Heart Grammar School, 10 Ashgrove Avenue, BT34 1PR

Further yellow warnings for snow and ice are also in place until Friday evening.

And motorists are being urged to take extra care on the roads today - the Ambulance service says it had to deal with 10 accidents before 10.30 am.

A number of roads across the province have been described as treacherous and have been closed as a result.