Heavy snow fall on roads in Craigantlet Hills, Co Down

A HEAVY blanket of snow has brought chaos to roads, travel, schools and homes across Northern Ireland on Friday morning.

Around 48,000 homes are without power and about 70 schools across the province are closed due to strong winds and snow.

Northern Ireland Electricity say it is expects ongoing problems with power cuts to continue over the weekend.

On Friday afternoon, it said it had restored power to 65,000 affected homes.

But because of heavey winds bringing trees down on cables, there are 48,000 homes without power.

The PSNI have also announced that the Glenshane Road in Co Derry, which was closed because of the weather conditions, has now re-opened.

At 12.45 pm, the PSNI announced that the Shore Road in Warrenpoint, Co Down is totally closed due to deep floodwater and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

There is also reports of heavy flooding on the carriageway between Newry and Warrenpoint and motorists are advised to slow down and take care.

Motorists are also reporting heavy flooding on the Saintfield Road in Carryduff.

Police have advised motorists to avoid the Craigantlet Hills because of what they describe as “adverse weather conditions”.

Translink are now reporting 60 minute delays on its Metro services in the Belfast area.

Belfast City Council says that the snow is affecting bin collections on Friday.

It advises householders: “Please continue to leave your bin out – we’ll try and collect it as soon as possible.”

Schools said they would not be opening because of the “adverse weather conditions” and the “risk to pupils and teachers.”

Travel has also been affected.

George Best Belfast City Airport’s runway was closed but has now re-opened.

Belfast International Airport has warned that its flights may also be affected by the weather.

The Albertbridge Road in east Belfast is very heavily flooded at junction with the Ravenhill Road.

Roads Service say it is causing very long delays from the Newtownards Road.

A number of roads have been closed.

The Roads Service said heavy snow accumulations have particularly affected the north east of Northern Ireland, with drifting of up to 40cms reported.

“Most routes have been salted three times over night with snow ploughing necessary on many routes,” they said.

Travellers are reporting heavy tailbacks in Carryduff, Co Down because of falling snow, sludge and floods on the roads.

The following roads are closed: A27 Moyad Road, Spelga; A50 Moyallen Road, Gilford; C27 Lylehill Road, Templepatrick; B70 Ballymaconnely Road, Rasharkin; A23 Ballygowan Road, Castlereagh, closed at Roselawn Cemetery.

The A26 Tullyraine Road, Banbridge, and A44 Magheramore Road, Ballycastle, are closed due to fallen trees and the Carryduff-Ballinahinch Road due to fallen power lines.

Waves crash into Ardglass harbour as winds gust up to 42 mph

Some parts of Co Down have escaped the snow but there are reports of gusting winds of up to 42 mph in the fishing village of Ardglass creating high waves.

The PSNI said on Friday morning that the Collin Road in Ballyclare is closed due to the adverse weather conditions.

All other routes are passable with care.

Northern Ireland Electricity said the damage to power supplies was concentrated in southern and eastern areas.

“Damage has been caused by flying debris and high winds, including broken electricity lines and damage to poles and other equipment,” NIE said.

“There may also be further faults which have not yet been reported to Northern Ireland Electricity and the adverse weather conditions, which could cause additional faults, are continuing.

“Customers who contact NIE by phone should listen fully to the recorded telephone messages which will provide the best and latest information available.”

Ruth Morgan from Belfast City Airport has advised passengers to check with the airline before travelling to the airport.

“These contact details can be found on the airport website,” she said.

“The airport will be updating passengers throughout the day across social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.”

Penguins feelling right at home in Belfast Zoo

Due to the adverse weather conditions, Belfast Zoo will be closed on Friday.

Schools closed so far on Friday, March 22:

• Wallace High School, Lisburn

• Methodist College, Belfast

• St Kieran’s Nursery School, Poleglass

• Ashgrove Nursery School, Newtownabbey

• Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch

• Harmony Hill Primary School, Lisburn

• Antrim Grammar School, Antrim

• Moorfields Primary School, Ballymena

• Fair Hill PS, Kinallen

• Ashgrove Primary, Newtownabbey

• McKinney Primary School, Dundrod

• Meadowbridge PS, Hillsborough

• St Paul’s Nursery Unit, Belfast

• Academy Primary and Nursery School, Saintfield

• Friends’ School, Lisburn

• Saintfield High School, Saintfield

• Laurelhill Community College, Lisburn

• St Ita’s Primary School, Belfast

• Glasswater Primary School, Crossgar

• St Joseph’s Primary School, Carryduff

• Lagan College, Belfast

• Glengormley High School, Newtownabbey

* Mossley Primary School, Newtownabbey

• Dundela Infants’ School, Belfast

• Seaview PS, Glenarm

• Andrews Memorial Primary School, Comber

• St Mary’s on the Hill Primary School, Glengormley

• Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School, Ballinderry Upper Lisburn

• Harmony Hill Primary School, Lisburn

• Carr’s Glen Primary School, Belfast

• Brookfield School, Moira

• Drumlins Integrated Primary School, Ballynahinch

• Lisburn Central Primary School, Lisburn

• Dromara Primary School, Dromara

• Old Warren Primary/Nursery School, Lisburn

• Tildarg Primary School, Ballyclare

• Ligoniel Primary School, Belfast

• Ballymacward Primary School, Lisburn

• Seymour Hill Primary School, Dunmurry

• Brookfield School, Moira

• Glenbank Nursery School, Belfast

• Clifton Special School, Bangor

• Alexander Dickson Primary School, Ballygowan

• Ballymacward Primary School, Lisburn

• Nendrum College, Comber

• Comber Primary School, Comber

• St. Mary’s Primary School, Rathfriland

• Glengormley Integrated Primary School

• St Patrick’s PS, Saul

• Hazelbank Primary School, Broughshane

• Abbots Cross Primary School, Newtownabbey

• Currie Primary School, Belfast

• Edmund Rice College, Newtownabbey

• Carryduff Primary School

• Largymore Primary School, Lisburn

• Nettlefield Primary School, Belfast

• Sandbrook Nursery School, Belfast

• St Bernard’s Primary School, Belfast

• Ballyclare High School

• Ballynahinch Primary School

• Ballycastle High School

• Carr Primary School, Lisburn

• Oakwood School and Assessment Centre, Belfast

• Mossley nursery school, Newtownabbey

• Leadhill Primary School, Belfast

• Springhill Primary School, Belfast

• Carrickmannon Primary School, Ballygowan

• St Oliver Plunkett, west Belfast

• Cedar Integrated Primary and Nursery School, Crossgar

• Greystone Primary School, Antrim

• St Patrick’s Academy, Lisburn.