Wintry conditions set to continue

Wintry conditions have made driving treacherous in many areas and drivers have been warned to exercise extreme caution as more snow and ice is forecast.

As the cold snap continues AA Roadwatch said many roads had black ice on them after freezing conditions and snow showers overnight and today.

A car drives along a snow-covered road in Co Antrim today as forecasters say the cold snap will continue until Wednesday night. Photograph: PA

Some of the worst effected areas Counties Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Louth, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

In Co Kildare gardai are asking motorists to exercise extreme care all back roads but also on the M4, M7 and M9 as they say the roads appear to be refreezing despite being gritted by the council. There were several incidents this morning.

In Co Louth the N1 Dundalk to Newry road was reported to be very slippery, in Co Kilkenny, there was a single vehicle crash on the Castlecomer road due to black ice while in Co Tipperary a horse box overturned on the N8 between Turnpike and Thurles Shooting Range.

In Northern Ireland snow made many roads treacherous. Exposed areas like the Glenshane Pass in Co Derry were badly affected.

There were a number of road accidents, with the Belfast to Bangor road in Co Down shut after a collision between a car and a lorry. An overturned vehicle forced the closure of the Newcastle to Ballynahinch Road, and there was another crash on the Ballygowan Road.

A police spokeswoman said: "The roads throughout Northern Ireland this morning are in a very treacherous condition and police are strongly advising motorists to drive with extra care."

Met Éireann today would be windy and very cold with sunny spells and showers of hail, sleet and snow. Some of the showers will be heavy and there is a risk of thunder also, the meteorological service website said. Temperatures were expected to range 4 to 7 degrees.

Further wintry showers tonight will occur tonight with frost in many areas and a risk of icy roads with temperatures between minus 2 to plus 2 degrees. Showers will become more isolated tomorrow but it will remain very cold until a break in the cold weather on Wednesday night.

Some ferries in the Irish Sea were cancelled or delayed because of the strong winds. Irish Ferries cancelled its twice-daily fast service between Dublin and Holyhead . Passengers were transferred to the larger and slower Ulysees ferry, which was delayed due to problems docking at Holyhead.

Stena Line experienced similar problems. It cancelled a fast ferry sailing between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire at 9am, and its Super Ferry service was also delayed due to docking problems. Passengers were advised to expect "severe delays".