The Met Office says the island is going to be hit by a cold snap.

There is likely to be ice on high ground as temperatures there drop below zero.

The Department Infrastructure says it is ready to send out its bulk gritters to main roads.

Priority is given to roads that carry the heaviest traffic, as well as key bus routes and roads to hospitals, fire stations and schools.

Details of winter gritting routes are highlighted on the government website at www.gov.im/gritting

Roads are usually treated after the evening rush hour or from 5am before the morning commute. Grit is spread before ice and frost forms.

The DoI wants people to ake responsibility for their own driveways and footpaths outside their own properties. Grit is free to collect from the island’s civic amenity sites and from 850 salt bins placed in residential areas and strategic locations around the island.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK said: ’The winter months bring freezing temperatures and challenging driving conditions.

’The department’s gritting crews are sent out at night or during the early hours of the morning during bad weather to pre-treat roads around the island. This is an important part of our work to keep people safe and to reduce the number of accidents.’

The Met Office says today will be dry and sunny but with a chilly, mainly moderate to fresh north wind, highs of only around 7C, generally and nearer to 3C over the hills.

The slight risk that a wintry shower may clip the southwest of the island tonight but dry for most parts with a moderate to fresh northerly breeze, becoming locally strong in exposed spots.

Lowest temperatures will range from 4C on windward coasts down to freezing with a risk of some icy patches, in upland areas.

Mostly sunny again on Thursday and staying largely dry, just the slight risk of an isolated wintry shower towards the southwest at first. There will be brisk north or northwest winds, locally strong in exposed locations, will make it feel cold, highest temperature 6C.

On Friday it will be dry and bright at first but skies will cloud over to bring some light rain later in the day.

It will be less breezy with the wind becoming light to moderate from the north or northwest and temperatures climbing eventually to 9C.