Storm Dave is set to cause travel disruption across parts of the UK this Easter weekend, with heavy snow and gale-force winds expected. The Met Office has issued a yellow severe weather warning for Scotland, where up to 30 centimetres of snow could fall, leading to potential travel and power disruption. However, conditions are forecast to improve through Sunday, leaving sunshine and widespread showers.
An amber wind alert for parts of northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland was lifted early on Sunday, while two yellow wind alerts remain in place until noon for northern England and Scotland. A third alert for Wales will lift at 7am. Travel disruption is anticipated on roads, rail, air and ferry services.
Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office meteorologist, said cold air across Scotland would turn rain to heavy snow, with 20 to 30 centimetres over higher ground and five to 10 centimetres over lower ground. Traffic Scotland reported restrictions on major bridges, including the Queensferry Crossing on the M90, while the Humber Bridge in Yorkshire was closed to high-sided vehicles due to strong winds. ScotRail confirmed emergency speed restrictions on parts of its network, causing longer travel times.
Temperatures are expected to rise after Easter Monday, with warmer air from Europe bringing highs of 20-21C on Tuesday and possibly 23-24C by Wednesday. Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, urged the public to follow safety advice. The RAC predicted the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022, while Abta estimated 2 million UK residents would travel abroad between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
