The weather is expected to ease from today, following a raft of overnight blizzards and severe drifting snow — but don’t expect a balmy Easter break.

The Met Office issued an overnight Severe Weather Warning, predicting a prolonged period of snow across Northern Ireland which could turn very heavy at times, quickly drifting in strong to gale force north winds with blizzard conditions developing in many areas.

Upland areas were predicted to catch snowfalls of up to 40cm with deep drifts and the Met Office warned of impassable roads and interruptions to power supplies.

Meanwhile, forecasters Meteogroup alerted people to heavy snow over high ground and a significant covering of snow at lower levels, with |accompanying high winds.

Forecaster Billy Payne said practically everywhere in Northern Ireland will see some snow today.

“The wind will clear away to some wintry showers and temperatures will only be reaching 5C,” he said.

“Pretty much everywhere is going to see some snow, although it will probably be a bit sleetier at lower levels during the day.

“Tonight there will be a few wintry showers around with clearer spells. It will be cold and breezy with temperatures dipping to around freezing.

“Temperatures will recover a bit over the next few days so it will be quite chilly and breezy.

“It will be brighter and showers could be wintry over high ground. It will be colder at night, dipping to around freezing.”

Weather over the Easter weekend is looking unsettled with outbreaks of rain or showers at times, he said.

“It will still be feeling quite breezy and chilly though |temperatures will pick up a little bit.

“Things are staying unsettled for the foreseeable future but less wintry after today. It will probably be turning less cold after today.”