NI Weather: Snow and ice warnings issued as cold snap continues.

A number of weather alerts have been issued for all the islands of Ireland with severe cold temperatures expected.

In Northern Ireland, a yellow snow and ice warning is in effect until 18:00 on Sunday.

The Met Office said between 5-10cm of snow was expected over the Mornes, Spreens and Antrim Hills, with some light dusting.

The forecaster said transportation is likely to be disrupted and some infrastructure and snow will be an additional hazard, especially on untreated surfaces.

“Rain, sleet and snow will develop from the south late Saturday before clearing by Sunday,” the forecaster added.

“There is a chance of rain in coastal areas, but inland and on higher ground, snow and sleet are more likely.”

Meanwhile, four Irish Cup fifth round ties have been postponed After a pitch inspection on Saturday, and the GAA has said it will monitor the condition of the playing surfaces over the weekend.

The coldest temperature recorded on the island of Ireland was -6C (21.2F) on Friday at Catesbridge in County Down.

Naimh McElroy from NI Water said people should take “extra care” around waterways during the winter.

Reservoirs and crevasses “may look frozen, but if they do, it’s impossible to tell how thick the ice is,” he said.

He warned that “the ice could be thin in places” and “there is a real risk of someone drowning.”

“Dog owners also need to remember to keep their four-legged friends on a lead if they are being walked near bodies of water and other open water,” he added.

In England and Wales, Severe amber warnings for snow and ice remain in place for the weekend. The Met Office has warned that up to 30-40cm of snow could fall in parts of northern England.

Met Éireann, the Republic of Ireland’s meteorological service, has issued a number of alerts for snow and ice over the weekend, describing it as a “multiple weather threat”.

An orange warning for snow and ice is in place for eight counties: Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary until 17:00 local time on Sunday, with orange rain and snow. Counties Cork and Kerry

Met Éireann has warned of extremely difficult travel conditions, poor visibility, and disruption to public transport.

The remaining counties are under a yellow weather alert for snow and ice until 17:00 Sunday evening.

A further four-day weather advisory has been issued by the service for the country, starting at 17:00 on Sunday 5 January and ending at 23:00 on Thursday 9 January.

The Met Office has said it is safer not to drive in icy conditions, but recommends several precautions that drivers should take if necessary:

• Keep a good eye out for potential hazards and keep your speed low
• Accelerate, brake, steer and change gears as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of skids.
• A higher gear may be more appropriate to aid traction on packed snow.
• Using a higher gear helps regulate engine power making it easier to find traction.

The service urged cyclists to stick to main roads, which are more likely to be treated, and to leave more time for all road users to complete their journey.

As the cold weather continues, NI Water reminded the public. Be aware of the danger of frozen pipes, as they pose a threat to properties and property.

Advice includes sealing your pipes and water tanks, fixing leaky taps, knowing how to turn off your property’s stop tap, checking the service of your central heating boiler and turning the heat on if you’re moving out. Less drop involved.