The UK Met Office and Met Éireann have issued Status Yellow snow and ice warnings for 11 counties as wintry showers move in from the north.

In Northern Ireland, the warning runs from midnight Tuesday until midday Wednesday, covering Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry. Forecasters say icy patches and lying snow will raise the risk of travel delays.

Met Éireann has also issued alerts for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo. Showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected, with modest accumulations possible on higher ground. Hazardous travel conditions and icy stretches are likely, especially during the early hours and again on Thursday morning. The warning is valid from 00.00 on Wednesday. until 12.00 on Thursday.

Overnight temperatures will fall below freezing under clear skies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while daytime highs in many areas will struggle to rise above 4–6°C. A brisk wind will add a subzero windchill effect, despite spells of sunshine away from north-facing coasts.

Milder Atlantic air is expected to reach the west coast by Friday evening, ushering in a return to unsettled conditions in a less cold west to northwesterly airflow through the weekend and into next week.

Marine and Craft Warnings

Meanwhile, Met Éireann has issued a series of yellow-level marine warnings, with northerly winds expected to reach gale force 8 in several coastal areas from Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

A yellow gale warning is in place from Erris Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough, where northerly winds are forecast to reach gale force 8 on Irish coastal waters. The warning is valid from 6pm on Tuesday until 5am on Wednesday.

A separate yellow warning covers waters from Howth Head to Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point and the Irish Sea south of Anglesey. Northerly winds are expected to reach gale force 8 at times. This warning is valid from midnight to 6am on Wednesday.

A small craft warning is also in effect for all coasts of Ireland, with northerly winds expected to rise to force 6 or higher. It is valid from 12:30am on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday.