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NI weather: The 5 things you need to know as Met Office forecasts snow for New Year
Need to know
Temperatures are expected to drop in the coming days
Everything you need to know
- The new year is set to bring arctic air and strong northerly winds to the UK at the end of this week, resulting in cold or very cold conditions with a transition to more unsettled conditions. In Scotland, a yellow weather warning for snow and ice is currently in place for New Year’s Day and January 2.
- For Northern Ireland, the Met Office said wintry showers are possible from New Year’s Day onwards. There is a possibility of around 5cm of snow accumulating from Thursday, January 1 until Saturday, January 3 for some parts, most likely occurring over the Antrim Mountains.
- The weather forecast for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day across Northern Ireland shows temperatures dropping, with a mix of dry, sunny, and showery conditions. Wintry showers are more likely in the evening of January 1.
- The Met Office said the chance of further weather warnings in the coming days is likely. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the New Year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026. These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the New Year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely. It looks like this cold spell will last through at least the first week of January, so it’s important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.”
- Ahead of the predicted cold snap, people have been urged to check in on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbours. Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
READ THE FULL REPORT: Northern Ireland snow latest as Met Office forecast up to 5cm in places
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