MOTORISTS and pedestrians are being urged to exercise extreme care today after bitter overnight weather took temperatures down to -6C.
The thick frost is accompanied in some locations in the North West this morning by dangerous freezing fog.
Freezing fog, when liquid fog droplets freeze to surfaces, can make it difficult to keep the windscreen clear. Combined with icy road surfaces – it’s a driver’s worst nightmare.
Motorists are asked to give themselves extra time on journeys today. We are already getting reports of black ice and extremely dangerous driving conditions in many rural areas of Derry this morning.
In the city footpaths are also in a dangerous condition.
Transport NI says gritting lorries have been in action overnight and will continue working to keep roads gritted throughout today.
The Met Office is predicting snow later this evening and overnight into Tuesday and has issued an Amber weather warning which is in place until 10am tomorrow.
It will remain bitterly cold this week with BBC forecasters believing it will begin to warm up, slightly, on Friday evening and into the weekend.
Motorists this week are advised to:
- Check local weather forecasts before embarking on a journey
- Not using hot water to clear a windscreen (as it can crack glass)
- In heavy fog, turn down your radio and open your window to allow yourself to hear other cars
- Do not depend on the tail lights of cars in front as a guide (something referred to as target fixing), as this can result in the reduction of a safe stopping distance
Pedestrians to avoid going out on rural roads in heavy fog if they can avoid it.
And to take extreme care on untreated footpaths.
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