Travel disruption continues across the UK following Storm Dave, despite yellow weather warnings being rescinded earlier than expected on Easter Sunday. The Met Office lifted three alerts for northern England, Scotland, and Wales by 7:30am, hours before their scheduled midday expiry, as conditions improved.
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services on Scotland's west coast faced disruption, and motorists encountered fallen trees blocking routes. The strongest gust overnight reached 93mph at Capel Curig in North Wales, with 75mph recorded at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire and St Bees Head in Cumbria, and 73mph at Buchan in Aberdeenshire.
Met Office spokesman Marco Petagna said: “The winds eased down a bit more quickly than forecast across Scotland, northern England and Wales. Storm Dave is pulling away and the warnings are easing more quickly than forecast so the yellow warnings were no longer warranted.”
Before the amber warning was lifted, the Met Office had forecast “severe gales” overnight. Network Rail Scotland imposed speed restrictions on some routes, with the last lifting around 8am on Sunday. The Humber Bridge reopened after being closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles due to strong winds, and Network Rail Manchester arranged rail replacement buses between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester.
As of 9am on Sunday, there were three flood warnings and eight flood alerts in Scotland, one flood warning and 23 flood alerts in England, and three coastal flood alerts in Wales. The Energy Networks Association had warned on Saturday of potential power cuts and fallen power lines, with network operators increasing staffing and moving spare equipment.
The Met Office forecast for Easter Sunday said Storm Dave would clear north-east by morning, leaving sunshine and widespread showers, with northern areas seeing the heaviest blustery showers.
