Storm-force gusts of wind and heavy snow disrupted travel across Northern Ireland yesterday and left up to 70,000 homes without electricity.
The counties worst affected were Antrim, Down and Armagh. Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said more than 100 faults were reported, mainly on the east coast. It was difficult to reach many of the damaged lines, and seven electricity workers were injured.
An NIE spokesman said the heavy snow and 70 m.p.h. winds caused widespread damage to the electricity network.
The Meteorological Office forecast more snow, ice and gale-force winds overnight and lighter winds today.
Many flights at both Belfast airports were cancelled, as were most ferry crossings out of Belfast and Larne, Co Antrim. Both motorways were reduced to single lanes, causing 10-mile tailbacks yesterday morning, and many roads were blocked by fallen trees and stranded lorries.
A group of schoolchildren in Derry escaped injury when their bus skidded into a wall.
There was disruption of rural postal services, and no mail arrived from Scotland due to the closure of Edinburgh Airport.
A group of disabled adults were trapped by snow in an outreach centre in the Mourne Mountains as they tried to return home from a charity outing. The eight people with disabilities and five volunteers from the charity Phab were hoping a mountain rescue team would reach them with supplies, but the road to Ballinran Centre, two miles into the mountains from Kilkeel, Co Down, was impassable.
A Phab volunteer, Ms Collette Craig, said they were unable to open the front door as there was four feet of snow piled up outside.