A spell of unsettled weather is expected to develop across the UK heading into the Easter weekend, following a largely fine day on Thursday.
Forecasters say a low-pressure system moving in from the Atlantic will intensify as it approaches, bringing a period of very strong winds to northern parts of the country from Saturday evening into Sunday. The system has been named Storm Dave.
The strongest conditions are forecast across Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and parts of northern England, where Yellow weather warnings for wind have been issued. Gusts of 50 to 60mph are expected widely, with 60 to 70mph possible in more exposed areas. In parts of Scotland, there is a small chance of gusts reaching 80 to 90mph for a short period in coastal and elevated locations.
Wind speeds are expected to increase at different times as the system tracks eastwards, with the earliest peak gusts likely in Northern Ireland on Saturday afternoon before spreading across the rest of northern Britain later in the day and overnight.
Alongside the strong winds, wintry conditions are expected in northern Scotland. Snowfall totals of 5 to 10cm are possible above 200 metres, with some areas potentially seeing 10 to 20cm. Combined with strong winds, this could lead to blizzard conditions and drifting snow. A separate Yellow warning for snow has been issued covering north-west Scotland from mid-afternoon on Saturday through to the early hours of Sunday.
Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said the storm is expected to deepen rapidly as it approaches from the west, bringing a marked increase in wind speeds through Saturday. He said gusts of 60 to 70mph are likely at times across parts of Scotland, with a risk of higher gusts in exposed coastal areas. He added that heavy snowfall over higher ground in northern Scotland could lead to difficult conditions, particularly when combined with strong winds.
Further south, bands of heavy rain are expected to move eastwards across the UK as the system passes through.
Road users are being advised to take extra care, particularly across northern and western areas. RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said driving conditions are likely to be challenging over the Easter period, with strong winds posing a particular hazard on exposed routes. He warned drivers to be cautious when overtaking high-sided vehicles and to reduce speed, noting that sudden gusts can affect vehicle control.
