EVENING ALL!…It was snow joke being a police car in January during last heavy snow fall.

A YELLOW weather warning has been issued as snow is expected to hit Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Forecasters at the MET office are predicting the first flurries of snow will hit the province by Thursday night.

They have also issued an AMBER warning for snow on Friday and Saturday.

The morning will be mainly dry and bright, with cloud setting in in the afternoon.

And the first outbreaks of sleet and snow will arrive in Co Fermanagh and Co Armagh by dusk.

An area of rain and sleet will move from the south later, turning increasingly to snow.

Heavier rain and sleet is more likely in east coastal areas, with a risk of localised flooding mainly in eastern areas.

Heavy and persistent snowfall will develop across many other areas, in excess of 10cm is forecast in some inland parts, with more over hills.

Taking into account the strong to gale force winds, some atrocious conditions with drifting and blizzards are expected for many upland areas in particular.

“The public should be aware of the likelihood of a spell of difficult and disruptive wintry weather, with impacts on travel and, perhaps, on power supplies,” a MET Office spokesperson said.

MET Éireann has also issued a severe weather warning for snow and ice in the Ulster counties Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

Penguins feelling right at home in Belfast Zoo in January

The orange ‘Be Prepared’ warning is valid from Thursday at 9pm and lasts through to the early hours of Sunday morning,

A MET Éireann statement said: “Rain, sleet and snow mix will give some lying snow accumulations especially on hills but also at some lower levels. There will be blizzards and drifting in the strong winds.”

There is also a rain warning in place for the rest of the country with widespread heavy showers expecting to cause spot flooding.

Eastern coastal areas are particularly at risk with strong to gale force east to southeast winds expected. The rain warning is in place until Friday evening.