Millions take to roads ahead of windy Easter weekend
Millions of travellers are taking to the road ahead of a windy Easter weekend with Storm Dave forecast to bring gusts of up to 90mph.
Travel trade organisation Abta estimated that two million people from the UK will travel abroad between Good Friday and Easter Monday, as the RAC predicted it would be the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for wind covering the whole of mainland Scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of northern England and North Wales from Saturday into Sunday.
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 on Wednesday was 184.2p, up 29% since the war started on February 28.
Average petrol prices have reached 153.7p per litre, a rise of 16% over the same period.
Forecasters warned there is a chance of “injuries and danger to life” from flying debris while the strong winds may also cause some damage and travel disruption.
Scotland will be hit by the strongest gusts, which could be up to 80-90mph for a short time in exposed locations.
A yellow warning of snow has also been issued for north-west Scotland where some places could see 10-20cm.
A yellow warning of wind will be in force across mainland Scotland from 6pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday.
The warning covering northern England and North Wales will be in place from 5pm on Saturday until 7am on Sunday while Northern Ireland will be covered by a warning from 2pm on Saturday until 2am the following day.
The snow warning in northern Scotland will be valid from 3pm on Saturday until 3am on Sunday.
Forecasters said that southern parts of the UK will not feel the impact of the storm.
Those travelling in Scotland over the weekend were warned to expect potential delays to their journeys.
George Fiddes, from Transport Scotland, said: “Storm Dave is a timely reminder that we can face challenging weather conditions at any time of year, not just during the winter period.
“The Met Office warnings show high winds will impact the whole country this weekend, with the prospect of some areas also being affected by heavy rain and snow, so I’m urging people to plan ahead if they are travelling over the Easter period.
“Motorists should check their planned routes before setting off.”
Police in Scotland urged HGV and bus drivers to use “extreme caution” when Storm Dave hits at the weekend.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “For those driving on the continent this Easter it is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire.
“If pump prices are high here – and indeed they are – then in many parts of Europe they have gone through the roof, including in France.
“It might seem counterintuitive, but filling up at Dover rather than in Calais could be the wise option.”
National Highways said it will lift 1,500 miles of roadworks from its network of motorways and major A roads in England between Thursday and Easter Monday to ease journeys.
UK holidaymakers jetting off to the European Union are being warned to expect two-hour delays on arrival as countries are ramping up the deployment of a new border system.
The EU’s Entry Exit System involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU.
Trade body Airports Council International said the latest data collected from airports across Europe shows a “continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points”.
Delays are “regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times, with some airports reporting even longer queues”, it added.
EasyJet said it is preparing for its busiest Easter getaway, with up to 16,000 flights from UK airports during the two-week school break.
Meanwhile, thousands of Easter train journeys will be disrupted as Network Rail carries out more than 270 upgrade projects across Britain.
This includes a six-day shutdown on the West Coast Main Line starting on Good Friday, meaning no intercity services will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes.
Published: by Radio NewsHub