Amber wind warning issued as Storm Dave set to hit parts of UK

An amber wind warning has been issued for Saturday evening as Storm Dave is expected to bring "disruptive and potentially damaging winds" to parts of the UK.

The warning, covering northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland, will begin at 19:00 BST and is due to expire at 03:00 on Sunday.

The Met Office upgraded a severe yellow warning to amber, indicating possible injuries or danger to life from flying debris, potential travel disruption and a "good chance" of power cuts.

Yellow warnings will cover parts of all four nations on Saturday evening as Storm Dave is expected to sweep across the country overnight, driving wet and windy weather into the early hours of Easter Sunday.

Those travelling over the Easter weekend have been warned of possible disruption on the roads as well as ferry, rail and air services.

Some ferry services have been cancelled and amended in western Scotland, while holiday sites in Wales have reported cancelled stays over the blustery conditions.

In Northern Ireland, where a yellow warning for wind came into effect at 14:00, some council facilities are closed and visitors have been advised to stay clear of parks and nature reserves.

Up to 30cm of snow could fall in parts of Scotland, where a yellow warning has likewise kicked in, with the Met Office warning of "strong wind blizzards and drifting snow" posing a further hazard.

ScotRail urged passengers to check their journeys before travelling while Highlands and Islands Airports warned flights could be affected.

In England, National Highways said people should plan ahead and adjust their travel plans as the RAC warned extra care should be taken on exposed, higher routes.

The strongest gusts are expected in the areas covered by the amber warning, with possible speeds of 60-70mph.

Some coastal or exposed locations could see winds hit 80mph, where the Met Office warned large waves and debris meant injuries and danger to life were likely.

People have been advised to stay indoors as much as possible, and check for loose items outside that need securing.

Met Office chief meteorologist Chris Bulmer said wind speeds were expected to pick up first in Northern Ireland early on Saturday afternoon, before "spreading more widely across the north of the UK".

The separate warnings are:

• A yellow wind warning covering all of Northern Ireland from 14:00 on Saturday to 03:00 on Sunday
• A yellow snow warning covering the west Highlands, Argyll and the Western Isles from 14:00 on Saturday until 03:00 on Sunday
• A yellow wind warning covering northern England, southern Scotland and northern Wales from 17:00 on Saturday to 07:00 on Sunday
• A yellow wind warning for almost all of Scotland from 18:00 on Saturday to midday on Sunday
• An amber wind warning covering southern Scotland, northern England and north-west Wales from 19:00 on Saturday to 03:00 on Sunday
• A yellow wind warning for Orkney and Shetland from midnight on Sunday until midday

Storm Dave will slowly loosen its grip on Easter Sunday as it continues its path eastward, although strong winds will continue across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

Further south, there will be sunshine and showers - although these areas are set for cooler conditions than on Saturday.

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.