Storm Dave is expected to cause travel disruption across parts of the UK this Easter weekend, with heavy snow and gale-force winds forecast for northern regions. 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 disruptions. An amber wind alert for northern England, north-west Wales, and southern Scotland was lifted early on Sunday, but yellow wind alerts remain in place for parts of northern England and Scotland until noon.
Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office meteorologist, warned that heavy snow would affect the Highlands, with 20 to 30 centimetres on higher ground and five to 10 centimetres on lower levels. Travel disruption is expected on roads, rail, air, and ferry services. Traffic Scotland reported restrictions on major bridges, including the Queensferry Crossing, while the Humber Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles due to strong winds. ScotRail also implemented emergency speed restrictions, lengthening journey times.
Despite the cold snap, temperatures are expected to rise after Easter Monday, with warmer air from Europe pushing temperatures into the low 20s by Tuesday and possibly reaching 24°C by Wednesday. Dewhurst noted that mid-20s are normal for April as the sun strengthens. Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, urged the public to follow safety advice, while the RAC predicted the busiest Easter on roads since 2022, and Abta estimated 2 million UK residents would travel abroad over the holiday.
