Freezing fog that descended on Saturday night has caused issues throughout Sunday, with motorists urged to exercise caution on the roads earlier in the day.
The fog also caused problems at NI’s airports, with up to five flights forced to circle the air above Belfast as they attempted to land.
One flight from Edinburgh to Belfast City Airport appeared to have been diverted to Dublin shortly before 2pm.
The temperature has failed to rise above freezing in Aldergrove, Co Antrim and Katesbridge, Co Down, who recorded maximum temperatures of -0.3°C and -0.2°C respectively.
A misty morning in east Belfast yesterday
Saturday night’s minimum temperature was -3.9°C, recorded in both Castlederg, Co Tyrone and Thomastown, Co Fermanagh.
Mist and fog patches are set to remain throughout Sunday and into the early hours of Monday morning.
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Temperatures hovering around 1°C during the day and falling to -2°C during the night, with a forecasted high of 4°C.
On Monday, that early freezing fog will be slow to clear, with a dry day and sunny spells forecast for areas that do manage to break through.
The freezing fog is not expected to be as persistent as Sunday’s conditions.
There will be possible showers of rain, with a maximum temperature of 5°C.
The fog will give way to some dry, sunny spells on Tuesday, while cloud will increase into Wednesday and Thursday, when some patchy light rain or drizzle is possible at times in the east.
No warnings are expected to be issued.
The PSNI have warned road users to slow down during the cold spell.
“Stopping distances increase greatly when weather conditions are poor, so road users are asked to slow down and leave a bigger gap between their vehicle and the vehicle in front,” said a spokesperson.
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It comes as a cold health alert has been issued for some parts of England throughout the week as temperatures plummet.
Many regions in England have been hit with flooding following heavy rainfall in recent days, with 172 flood warnings and 176 flood alerts in place on Sunday afternoon.
The amber cold alert for the North West of England, West Midlands, East Midlands and South West of England – issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, runs until 12pm on Friday January 12.
An amber alert means “cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time”.
There is also a yellow cold health alert in place for the North East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East of England, South East of England and London.
Fog over Belfast City as a cold snap hits Northern Ireland on January 7 2024 Pic: Stephen Henderson
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom into next week, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold.”
“The cold weather can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections and can have a serious health impact for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
“Temperatures are expected to turn particularly cold overnight, as we would expect at this time of year.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
