Cold set to bite NI today say forecasters as GB shivers

The Met Office forecast temperatures as low as –10C in parts of Scotland overnight last night, and hundreds of schools have been closed across the UK, including more than 200 in Wales, 131 in Kent and 62 in East Sussex.

Whilst Northern Ireland largely escaped the most serious effects of the deep freeze hitting parts of Britain yesterday, and looks set to continue to do so, Met Office forecaster Filopas Paschos said easterly winds today will mean temperatures will become “much more cold” in the afternoon.

He said it will remain below freezing for most of the day today, with night-time readings dropping to as low as –7C in rural places.

He also said the maximum temperature on Thursday is likely to be –1C or zero, with cold conditions likely to continue on Friday and at the weekend too.

There is also the possibility of snow today and in the days ahead for the Province – though he indicated that it is likely to be measured in a few centimetres, rather than the 40cm-or-so of snow (16 inches) forecast for parts of Scotland in the days ahead thanks to the weather system some media have dubbed “the beast from the east”.