Storm Dave to Bring 90mph Gusts and Snow
Storm Dave has been named and is forecast to bring damaging winds across northern parts of the UK on Saturday and into Easter Day, with snow possible in Scotland. The northern half of the country is set to be hit with gale-force winds over the Easter weekend, with forecasters warning of possible travel disruption and power cuts.
The Met Office has issued a series of yellow weather warnings for very strong winds in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of north Wales and northern England. The storm will officially begin at 2pm on Saturday when the first of several warnings is activated, before ending at 3pm on Easter Sunday when the last warning finishes.
Forecasters said gusts of 50 to 60mph are expected ‘fairly widely’, possibly rising to 60 to 70mph in exposed locations and as high as 80 to 90mph in western Scotland. Separately, forecasters issued a snow warning for north-west Scotland running from 5pm on Saturday until 3am on Sunday where up to 8in (20cm) could accumulate.
Brits have been warned to expect delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport, with potential cancellations for some services. Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges are likely, while some roads and bridges could close. There is a risk of power cuts and disruption to other services such as mobile phone coverage, as well as a risk of damage to buildings, such as tiles being blown from roofs.
Forecasters have also warned of a ‘small chance’ of injuries as a result of large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
Weather Warnings and Travel Disruption
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: ‘A significant cold plunge from Canada into the North Atlantic will impact our weekend weather, strengthening the jet stream and spinning up a deep area of low pressure towards the north-west of the UK on Saturday night. This will lead to a spell of very strong winds later on Saturday and overnight into the morning of Easter Sunday. We have issued yellow warnings for wind for Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern parts of both England and Wales for Saturday night and into Sunday, when a spell of very strong winds could cause disruption.’
He added: ‘Winds should gradually ease through Easter Sunday as the area of low pressure clears to the North Sea. He added: ‘Due to the warnings this weekend, we recommend keeping an eye on our latest forecasts and as the week progresses.’
Tom Morgan, Met Office operational meteorologist, said that while much of the UK will see ‘unsettled’ weather by the end of the week, it does not necessarily point to a ‘washout’ over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. ‘There’s actually going to be quite a lot of dry weather, particularly across England and Wales, but it will be turning windier for all,’ he said.
Advice for Drivers and Travelers
Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: ‘Millions of people are expected to be on the move over the holiday period, so we’re urging drivers to plan ahead, allow extra time, and be prepared for delays. In wet and windy conditions, it’s vital to slow down, increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front, and keep both hands firmly on the wheel. Heavy rain can greatly reduce visibility and increase stopping distances, while strong crosswinds can make handling more difficult, especially for high‑sided.’
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: ‘The arrival of Storm Dave is set to make driving conditions across the north and west of the UK this Easter particularly challenging. While we expect leisure traffic volumes to be slightly lower on Saturday and Sunday compared with the rest of the bank holiday, there will still be millions of people on the roads visiting friends and family. Drivers shouldn’t underestimate the impact of the very strong winds that are forecast. We recommend taking extra care on exposed, higher routes and being especially cautious when overtaking high‑sided vehicles, as the buffeting effect can catch some people out. Slowing down and keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel are both vital in these conditions.’
Safety Tips for Beachgoers
And RNLI water safety manager Ross Macleod said: ‘With many people likely to be heading to the beach over the Easter weekend, the RNLI’s advice is to choose a lifeguarded beach and stay between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards. If you’re not close to a lifeguarded beach, make sure you find out about your chosen beach before you visit, check the weather and tide times and read local safety signage. Our seas are at their coldest at this time of year, so cold water shock is a risk. Take your time to acclimatise slowly, and wear a wetsuit if possible. If you find yourself in difficulty, Float to Live – tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and control your breathing, and float on your back until you can swim to safety or call for help. Don’t worry if your legs sink, everyone floats differently. If you see someone else in danger, phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the person to float, and throw them something buoyant to help them float until assistance arrives.’
UK Roads – Millions of Trips Despite Fuel Price Hike
The AA: Some 21.7 million journeys across the UK have been planned for today, according to the AA and traffic data analysts at Inrix. This is based on a survey of more than 13,000 AA members conducted from March 13 to 19, before the conflict in the Middle East began. Today is set to be the busiest day overall as drivers get a head start on the long weekend.
Easter Saturday is expected to be the busiest day of the bank holiday weekend itself, with almost 20.3million drivers taking to the roads. Good Friday will see around 19.6million journeys, roughly half a million more than last year.
Journey numbers remain high across the weekend, with Easter Sunday and Easter Monday both seeing around 18.9million trips. Most drivers are planning to keep their Easter journeys relatively short, according to the AA. Just over half (53 per cent) expect to travel under 50 miles, with 5 per cent planning trips of between 50 and 100 miles.
Traffic Congestion Hotspots
Visiting family and friends is the most common Easter road journey purpose, with work and shopping trips also featuring prominently. Expected congestion hotspots include:
- The M6 through Birmingham and further north towards Blackpool;
- The M25 between the M23 and M40;
- The M5 in the Bristol area and further into the South West;
- The A303 in Wiltshire;
- The M4 in South Wales.
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, said: ‘After what feels like a very long, wet winter, lots of families are looking forward to the Easter break. With more than 20 million journeys expected on the busiest days, and over 21 million drivers on the roads on Thursday alone, it’s shaping up to be one of the busiest Easters on the roads in recent years.’
Drivers in the Midlands should be aware that the A38 will be closed between Swinfen Interchange and Hilliard’s Cross from 27 March to 7 April for HS2 works. This includes removal of the temporary carriageway and completion of the final road layout, with the northbound slip road at Streethay then remaining closed for a further 12 months.
RAC Predicts Busiest Easter Since 2022
RAC: Motoring services company the RAC has predicted it will be the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022 – the first full getaway after the Covid lockdowns. Data from the organisation suggests traffic will be at its busiest on Good Friday with drivers planning around 3.3million leisure trips. It said more than 2.3million leisure trips are planned today, while drivers are expected to make 3million journeys on Saturday.
The number of trips planned drops slightly on Easter Sunday to 2.3million, before increasing again to a further 3million on Easter Monday as travellers return home. A further 6.7million journeys are anticipated at some point over the Easter bank holiday weekend, with drivers undecided on their exact date of travel.
Oil prices – which have a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel – have soared in response to Iran’s stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The RAC said the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts yesterday was 184.2p, up 29 per cent since the war started on February 28. Average petrol prices have reached 153.7p per litre, a rise of 16 per cent over the same period.
Refueling Tips for European Travelers
Separate research by the RAC shows that while 31 per cent of drivers are increasingly worried about rising fuel costs, most are not changing their plans. Only 6 per cent expect to drive shorter distances and another 6 per cent say they won’t drive at all, as a direct result of the higher prices. This is despite the fact that filling up a typical diesel family car this Easter will cost at least £19 more than it did on Good Friday in 2025, and a tank of petrol nearly £8 more.
The RAC said some of the worst delays of more than 40 minutes today are expected on the M25 clockwise between J15 and J19 around 2.45pm, and on the M4 westbound across the Prince of Wales Bridge towards Bridgend with delays of an hour and a quarter in the evening. The anticlockwise stretch from J17 to J12 will also see similar delays closer around 4pm, close to the evening rush-hour.
On Good Friday, many major roads are expected to be busy throughout the day from 10am to 7pm. The M5 southbound between J15 north of Bristol and J23 for Bridgwater – a key holiday route – could see journey times extended by more than 50 minutes at lunchtime.
Rail Disruptions During the Easter Holidays
Rail passengers face travel chaos during the Easter holidays amid a six-day shutdown on Britain’s biggest intercity line and sections of Tube lines suspended. Families travelling with luggage to see relatives will be forced to take replacement buses in some areas as millions of people make journeys over the four-day weekend.
No West Coast Main Line services will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes from Good Friday to Wednesday, April 8 due to engineering works. Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway said services will start and end at Milton Keynes with buses to Bedford for onwards trains to London St Pancras. The closure by Network Rail forms part of a wider £400million project to improve reliability of the West Coast Main Line, which is Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway.
A series of works will be carried out such as £8.4milion of new track to be laid at Willesden in North West London – including the renewal of switches and crossings, which are moveable sections of track that guide trains from one track to another. A further £8million will be spent on new overhead power equipment around the Wembley area; while £6.6million will go towards waterproofing a bridge in Ledburn near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire to prevent future damage to the structure.
Engineers will carry out a £7million signalling upgrade nearby, while £5.8million will be spent on Harrow and Wealdstone to repair station canopies and improve platforms. An additional £2million of works will be carried out in Bushey in Hertfordshire in a project to upgrade the power supply that keeps trains moving in and out of London. These works will also impact Bakerloo line and Overground trains, which will not run between Euston, Harrow and Wealdstone and Watford Junction on Saturday and Easter Sunday.
