Yellow weather warnings for wind kick in amid Christmas getaway
Strong wind warnings will come into force in parts of the UK on Saturday morning as millions take to the roads ahead of Christmas.
The Met Office said gusts could reach 50-60mph and car experts predicted it would be the busiest weekend for cars this year.
A yellow alert will be in place from 07:00 GMT on Saturday to 21:00 GMT on Sunday for parts of Scotland, north-west and north-east England and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
this Warning coverage expanded on Sunday Includes parts of south-west England, Derbyshire, Hampshire, the West Midlands and Yorkshire, as well as all of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Westerly winds are expected on Saturday.
Forecasters said wind gusts of up to 80mph were most likely to occur in far north Scotland, Orkney and Shetland on Saturday afternoon and evening.
The Met Office added: “Hazardous coastal conditions are also expected, with large waves posing additional danger.”
Transport Scotland said road, rail, air and ferry services “are all likely to be affected by this situation” and bridges may be canceled and restricted.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “The weekend is set to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and even wintry showers in some places, with seven million driving trips expected, many of whom will be very tired.”
When non-recreational traffic is taken into account, almost 14 million drivers are expected to hit the roads at the weekend, setting a new record, according to the RAC.
Winds are expected to ease on Monday but a white Christmas is expected to be unlikely as clouds and rain are expected.
The Met Office said there is “absolutely no chance of clear blue skies and snow on the ground” over Christmas.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebecca Hicks added that Christmas itself “will be a fairly cloudy, uneventful day”.
