Storm Dave hits road and rail travel but conditions easing

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Maia Davies,

Ben Rich,Lead Weather Presenterand

Darren Bett,Lead Weather Presenter

Jules/BBC Weather Watchers

Storm Dave brought high winds across the UK, including in Porth, Cornwall

Storm Dave has caused widespread disruption to road and rail travel after it hit the UK with strong winds, rain and some snow - but conditions are easing on Easter Sunday.

Yellow wind warnings - covering Scotland, north-west Wales and parts of northern England - for blustery conditions on Saturday and overnight expired on Sunday morning.

An amber wind alert warning of potential danger to life from flying debris in northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland was lifted overnight.

In Blackpool, Lancashire, a woman said she and her daughter had only just moved out of a house which partially collapsed overnight during “horrendous” winds.

The gable end of a house in Blackpool collapsed during Storm Dave

In the Lake District, four teenage boys had to be rescued from a crag after attempting to camp in a cave, a mountain rescue team said.

While in Staffordshire, two families were forced from their homes after a large tree fell onto their roofs.

Three flood warnings were still in place in Scotland on Sunday, as the storm moves away, with one warning and several alerts - warning that flooding is possible - in England.

The Met Office has forecast windy weather for Sunday with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers for most across the UK.

The weather will be dry and calmer by the evening while Sunday night will turn gradually drier and clearer with easing winds, but will be chilly.

The storm had brought gusts of wind up to 93mph (150km/h) recorded in Capel Curig in north Wales; 83mph in Aberdaron in Gwynedd; and 75mph in Emley Moor in West Yorkshire.

Many bridges still face traffic restrictions - in Scotland high wind warnings are in place for the Forth Road Bridge and Tyne Bridge, while the Tay Road Bridge is open only to cars, with a speed limit of 30mph.

ScotRail warned that emergency speed restrictions would be implemented on sections of the network on Sunday which would result in longer journey times.

Parts of the west Highlands, Argyll and the Western Isles saw heavy snow, while Glasgow and the west also saw snow flurries later on Sunday morning.

In England, the Humber Bridge closed overnight before being reopened.

Network Rail Manchester is running rail replacement bus services between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester because of stormy weather overnight.

Donna Hanna said she had been shocked to see the damage at her old home in Westbourne Avenue, Blackpool, after the gable end of the property collapsed into the alleyway next to it, and felt “sick” thinking about what had happened.

And spectators were told to stay away from Durham’s Riverside cricket ground at Chester-le-Street after it was hit by Storm Dave overnight.

The start of the third day’s play in the County Championship second division match between Durham and Kent has been delayed.

Lizzie Nicholls, 27, was staying with family in Newark, Nottinghamshire, and said there was a two-hour power cut overnight, describing the weather as “frightening”.

“The wind was howling, with things blowing around and hitting cars, and windows outside,” she said.

Tourists cancel Easter breaks as storm to bring high winds to Wales

Scotland to take brunt of wind and snow as amber warning issued

Archie MacPhie/BBC Weather Watchers

A blanket of snow was seen in Sconser on the Isle of Skye

In south and west Wales, thousands of homes were without power according to National Grid, while SP Energy reported power cuts in north Wales. Power has been restored in the majority of areas.

In Northern Ireland, about 2,000 homes were left without power on Saturday after high winds, with areas including Newtownhamilton in County Armagh and Seaforde in County Down reported as among the worst impacted. The majority of homes have had their power restored.

Ahead of the storm, some council facilities were closed and visitors were advised to stay clear of parks and nature reserves.

After a chilly start to Monday, temperatures will climb through the day to reach afternoon highs of 10-15C (50-59F), with dry and sunny spells for most.

Tuesday looks set to turn even warmer with 20C looking possible in parts of England and Wales.

EPA

Storm Dave also whipped the west coast of northern Jutland in Denmark on Sunday

How do storms like Dave get their names?

How to stay safe during a storm and what to do in a power cut

Met Office