Almost 20 schools in the North remained shut yesterday because of burst pipes. It could be several days before some of the classrooms reopen after the Christmas holidays.
The rapid thaw left around 100,000 homes without supplies and tankers were again out yesterday delivering water to private homes and farms in some of the worst-affected areas. Rationing is also likely to last for some time.
Parts of south Down, south Armagh, west Tyrone and north Antrim are hit hardest by the restrictions.