More than 44,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland were without power on Friday after snow, sleet and storm force winds hit the province.
George Best City Airport said its runway was closed, while Belfast International Airport warned that the weather could cause some disruption to flights.
A number of roads have been closed, as have some schools.
Heavy snow has hit Northern Ireland
NIE, which operates the electricity network, said hundreds of additional engineers had been deployed to deal with the effects of the 50mph winds and snow, which was worst in south and eastern areas as well as on the north coast.
A spokeswoman for NIE said power lines had been hit by flying debris and affected by lying snow.
"Right across Northern Ireland the high winds and snow in the east have affected electricity supplies.
"We have quite a few faults on our high-voltage network and that is affecting the highest volume of customers.
"We will be doing our level best to restore all faults as quickly as possible."
Phone lines and electricity supplies were down for a time at the Mater Hospital in North Belfast.
Wallace High School in Lisburn, Methodist College in Belfast, St Kieran's Nursery School in Poleglass, Ashgrove Nursery School in Newtownabbey, Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch, Harmony Hill Primary School in Lisburn, Antrim Grammar School, Moorfields Primary School in Ballymena and Fair Hill PS in Kinallen are among the schools that have been closed for the day.
Ruth Morgan, from Belfast City Airport, has advised passengers to check with their 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."
The Roads Service said more than 300 staff in 130 gritters were on stand-by to salt main roads last night.
Snow drifts of up to 15.7in (40cm) have been reported.
"Most routes have been salted three times overnight with snow ploughing necessary on many routes," a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Sean Penston, weather forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said most parts of Northern Ireland would see snowfall today.
UK Weather Snow
Spring weather March 22(01 of81)
A white house surrounded by snow covered trees in Mold, North Wales, after snowfall fell throughout today. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(02 of81)
A bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(03 of81)
A bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(04 of81)
A bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(05 of81)
Blizzard conditions are experienced at the scene of an accident where a bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(06 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(07 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(08 of81)
A gritting vehicle waits to be pulled from a ditch near Kippen in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(09 of81)
A gritting vehicle waits to be pulled from a ditch near Kippen in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(10 of81)
Newly chopped trees near Cumbernauld covered in snow after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(11 of81)
Two spring lambs shelter from the snow alongside their mother in a field in Northop, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(12 of81)
Spring flowers surrounded by snow on a roundabout in Ruthin, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(13 of81)
A woman walks past two piles of snow as she shops in Mold, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(14 of81)
A white house surrounded by snow covered trees in Mold, North Wales, after snowfall fell throughout today. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(15 of81)
Traffic flows through a snow shower on the A1 near Wetherby, West Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(16 of81)
Two spring lambs shelter from the snow alongside their mother in a field in Northop, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(17 of81)
A car splashes through water in Shotton, North Wales, as drains struggled to cope with the amount of snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(18 of81)
Two spring lambs shelter from the snow alongside their mother in a field in Northop, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(19 of81)
A woman makes her way through the snow covered All Saints Churchyard in Bramham, West Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
Spring flowers surrounded by snow on a roundabout in Ruthin, North Wales....(20 of81)
Spring flowers surrounded by snow on a roundabout in Ruthin, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(21 of81)
Snow ploughs clear the Carnlough to Ballymena road in Co Antrim after a heavy snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(22 of81)
Snow ploughs clear the Carnlough to Ballymena road in Co Antrim after a heavy snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(23 of81)
Snow covered daffodills in Gateacre Village, Liverpool as Britain faces a day of severe disruption as heavy snow, flooding and blizzard conditions blight the country. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(24 of81)
Snow covered daffodils in Gateacre Village, Liverpool as Britain faces a day of severe disruption as heavy snow, flooding and blizzard conditions blight the country. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(25 of81)
People struggle through the snow whilst walking their dogs in Hillsborough Park, Sheffield as Britain faces a day of severe disruption as heavy snow, flooding and blizzard conditions blight the country. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(26 of81)
Cows huddle together in a field at Low Bradfield, near Sheffield following heavy snowfall in the area. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(27 of81)
Motorists make their way through snow covered roads,on the Carnlough to Ballymena road in Co Antrim after sbnow ploughs cleared drifting snow. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(28 of81)
Daffodils are covered in snow in Bramham, West Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(29 of81)
A spring lamb shakes snow from its head as it stands alongside its mother in a field in Northop, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(30 of81)
A woman walks past two piles of snow as she shops in Mold, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying - Group F - Northern Ireland v Russia - Windsor Park(31 of81)
Ground staff help clear snow away from Windsor Park prior to the FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier this evening. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(32 of81)
A woman makes her way along a snow covered path in Follifoot, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
Transport - Rail - Snow - Bewdley - 1996(33 of81)
Severn Valley railway's LMS-design 2-6-0 exits the Bewdley tunnel. The already scenic route was given the additional attraction of snow after an overnight fall. The locomotive, built in the 1950's was used on branch and country lines but more recently played a starring role in the comedy series 'Oh Doctor Beeching', filmed at nearby Arley, for which she was re-christened 'Blossom'. (credit:PA)
Weather - Winter - Snow - Goathland - 1998(34 of81)
The scene on the North Yorkshire Moors as the Steam Railway at Goathland provided a spectacular winter landscape for passengers using their trains following snowfalls over the weekend. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying - Group F - Northern Ireland v Russia - Windsor Park(35 of81)
Ground staff help clear snow away from Windsor Park prior to the FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier this evening. (credit:PA)
Spring flowers surrounded by snow on a roundabout in Ruthin, North Wales....(36 of81)
Spring flowers surrounded by snow on a roundabout in Ruthin, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(37 of81)
Two spring lambs shelter from the snow alongside their mother in a field in Northop, North Wales. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(38 of81)
A woman makes her way through the snow covered All Saints Churchyard in Bramham, West Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(39 of81)
Sheep stand in a snow covered field near Follifoot, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(40 of81)
Pedestrians walk through the snow in Belfast City centre in Northern Ireland, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. Northern Ireland bore the brunt of the cold snap, caused by an area of low pressure moving eastwards off the Atlantic Ocean. AFP PHOTO / LIAM MCBURNEY (Photo credit should read LIAM MCBURNEY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(41 of81)
HARROGATE, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: A snow covered golf course in Yorkshire on March 22, 2013 in Harrogate, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(42 of81)
HARROGATE, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: A man wearing shorts walks his dog as heavy snow falls over parts of Yorkshire as winter weather continues on March 22, 2013 in Harrogate, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(43 of81)
Vehicles drive through drifting snow on the A6 road near the town of Buxton in north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(44 of81)
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: Aircaft prepare to leave Leeds Bradford airport during a heavy snow storm on March 22, 2013 in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)s) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(45 of81)
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: Aircaft prepare to leave Leeds Bradford airport during a heavy snow storm on March 22, 2013 in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(46 of81)
HARROGATE, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: A car that had crashed into a hedge during heavy snow is marked with police tape as snow continues to fall on March 22, 2013 in Harrogate, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(47 of81)
HARROGATE, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: Heavy snow falls over parts of Yorkshire as winter weather continues on March 22, 2013 in Harrogate, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Snow And Rain Hit Britain In Coldest March For 50 Years(48 of81)
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 22: Aircaft prepare to leave Leeds Bradford airport during a heavy snow storm on March 22, 2013 in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Heavy snow is causing disruption to transport and schools across the UK in the coldest March the country has seen for decades, with no sign of the warm spring weather that Britain enjoyed this time last year. Homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, airports shut and flooding in parts of Devon and Cornwall. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(49 of81)
A tractor clears drifting snow from the A6 road near the town of Buxton in north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(50 of81)
Vehicles drive through drifting snow on the A6 road near the town of Buxton in north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UKRAINE-WEATHER-SNOW-FALL(51 of81)
Communal workers clean snow after heavy snow fell in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on March 22, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ YURIY DYACHYSHYN (Photo credit should read YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(52 of81)
Vehicles drive through drifting snow on the A6 road near the town of Buxton in north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(53 of81)
A man walks through the snow in the town of Buxton in north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(54 of81)
A man walks through the snow in the town of Buxton in north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(55 of81)
A postman walks through the snow in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Britain should be celebrating the start of spring but the kingdom was shivering Friday after heavy snowfall left tens of thousands of homes without power. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(56 of81)
A snow covered Pavilion Gardens is pictured in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(57 of81)
A man feeds the wildlife in a snow covered Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(58 of81)
A snow covered Pavilion Gardens is pictured in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(59 of81)
A woman crosses a snow covered road in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(60 of81)
A man feeds the birdlife in a snow covered Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(61 of81)
A snow covered Pavilion Gardens is pictured in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(62 of81)
A snow covered Pavilion Gardens is pictured in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-WEATHER(63 of81)
Ducks are pictured in the snow in Buxton, north-west England, on March 22, 2013. Schools were closed and transport was disrupted as yet more snow and flooding hit Britain Friday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spring weather March 22(64 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(65 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(66 of81)
Newly chopped trees near Cumbernauld covered in snow after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(67 of81)
A gritting vehicle waits to be pulled from a ditch near Kippen in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(68 of81)
A gritting vehicle waits to be pulled from a ditch near Kippen in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(69 of81)
A gritting vehicle waits to be pulled from a ditch near Kippen in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(70 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(71 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(72 of81)
A gritting vehicle waits to be pulled from a ditch near Kippen in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(73 of81)
A bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(74 of81)
Craig Ashe (left) and his brother Allan Ashe from Carluke ride their bikes in the snow at the Carronvalley Mountain bike trail in Central Scotland after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(75 of81)
A white house surrounded by snow covered trees in Mold, North Wales, after snowfall fell throughout today. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(76 of81)
A white house surrounded by snow covered trees in Mold, North Wales, after snowfall fell throughout today. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(77 of81)
A sheep shelters from the wind and snow at a farm near Fintry, Central Scotland after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(78 of81)
A bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(79 of81)
A police officer struggles in the wind and snow whilst attending an accident after a bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(80 of81)
Blizzard conditions are experienced at the scene of an accident where a bus came off the road on the A875 near Killearn in Stirlingshire but nobody was injured in the incident after snowfall. (credit:PA)
Spring weather March 22(81 of81)
A BT engineer works on a fallen phone line after the pole was knocked down near the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire after snowfall. (credit:PA)