Storm Dave: Strong winds and heavy snow to hit parts of Scotland over Easter Weekend

The Met Office have named the storm ahead of Easter Weekend.

Their first yellow weather warning for wind, issued on Wednesday, covers most of the country - excluding Orkney and Shetland - from 6pm on Saturday to 12pm on Sunday.

The warning reads: “A spell of very strong winds later Saturday and overnight into Easter Sunday morning may cause some damage and travel disruption.”

Meanwhile, the other wind warning, which covers Orkney and Shetland, begins and lasts for the entirety of Sunday.

On Thursday morning, a yellow warning for snow has been issued from 3pm on Saturday to 3am on Sunday covering northwest Scotland.

Peak gusts of 50 to 60 mph will be possible fairly widely, with 60 to 70 mph in more exposed locations.

The forecaster added there is a slight chance of some very strong winds across parts of Scotland, particularly in the west, where gusts of 80 to 90 mph may be possible in exposed areas for a time.

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Heavy snow is likely to cause disruption, with accumulations of 5 to 10cm possible at location over 200m in elevation in northern Scotland.

Some areas could see 10 to 20cm and with strong wind blizzards and drifting snow will be an additional hazard.

The Met Office warned that the spell of very strong winds is likely to cause "some damage and travel disruption", such as the cancellation of public transport services and the closure of certain roads and bridges.

Power cuts could also occur, and there is a slight chance of some damage to buildings.

Deputy Chief Forecaster, Tom Crabtree, said: “Storm Dave will form and rapidly deepen on Saturday as it approaches the UK from the west.

“By Saturday afternoon winds will strengthen significantly, with gusts of 60-70mph expected at times across parts of Scotland with the potential for gusts of 80 to 90mph in exposed coastal locations in Scotland. Gusts of 50 to 60mph are likely more widely in northern Britain.

“As well as strong winds, Storm Dave will also bring heavy snowfall over the hills in northern Scotland where up to 10 to 20cm of snow could accumulate.

“Along with the strong winds this will lead to blizzard conditions. Elsewhere there will be heavy spells of rain as the system moves through eastwards across the UK.

“With Storm Dave a few days away, people should prepare their property for the strong winds and keep updated with the latest weather forecast as the weather warnings are likely to be updated.”