Winter Wonderland Woes: Navigating Travel Challenges Amid Snowy Delays

Travel alerts have been issued as snow continues to accumulate in some areas of Northern Ireland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has cautioned about “hazardous driving conditions” after several cars became immobilized in the snow on Monday evening.

Belfast International Airport mentioned that there might be delays for flights while snow is being cleared from the runway.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather alert for snow and ice, which will remain in effect for Northern Ireland until 11:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Nighttime temperatures have dropped below freezing over the past week and are projected to do so again in the upcoming nights.

Earlier on Monday, the PSNI recommended that drivers steer clear of the Coleraine Mountain region of Limavady, County Londonderry, as heavy snow had left many vehicles stranded and traffic was unable to proceed.

The area is now accessible, but the PSNI continued to advise drivers to remain cautious while traveling therein.

The Frosses Road, situated between Ballymena and Ballymoney in County Antrim, was also closed temporarily on Monday due to a multi-vehicle accident.

“Road conditions in this area are perilous owing to the current weather,” stated the PSNI.

“Kindly reduce your speed, and increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead.”

In a post on social media on X on Monday evening, Belfast International Airport announced: “Snow showers are expected throughout this evening, which may lead to some delays while snow is cleared from the runway.”

They advised passengers to keep checking the latest flight information on their website or contact their airlines directly for updates.

Cold weather payments have been activated for eight postal regions in Northern Ireland.

The £25 payment is made to individuals residing in areas where the temperature is documented or projected to be 0°C or lower for seven consecutive days.

These cold weather payments are automatically granted to those receiving a qualifying benefit, and residents of these areas do not need to do anything to claim the funds.

Qualifying residents will be compensated in the following postcode areas in County Down:

The Met Office’s yellow warning for Northern Ireland commenced at 15:00 GMT on Monday, alerting residents to rain, sleet, and snow showers that could result in icy patches in unmaintained areas.

The weather in Northern Ireland is set to become drier and more luminous by mid-week.

The Met Office indicated it was advisable not to drive in icy conditions; however, they suggested several precautions that motorists should take if it is essential:

• Watch ahead for possible dangers and maintain lower speeds
• Accelerate, brake, steer, and change gears as smoothly as possible to decrease the chance of a skid
• Employing a higher gear could be more suitable to enhance traction on compacted ice
• Using a higher gear assists in controlling engine power, making it simpler to gain traction

Cyclists have been advised to utilize main roads, which are more likely to have been treated, and all road users should allow extra time to complete their travels.

NI Water has cautioned the public to be conscious of the risk of frozen pipes, as they can endanger properties and belongings.

Recommendations include insulating your pipes and water tanks, repairing leaky taps, knowing how to shut off your property’s stop tap, ensuring your central heating boiler is serviced, and keeping the heating on low if you plan to be away.