Britain is bracing for a chilly, damp, and blustery Easter weekend as strong 70mph winds sweep in from Canada. Plans for the extended bank holiday may need to shift indoors as the Met Office anticipates a wet and cloudy outlook starting from Good Friday.
Weather warnings for high winds are in effect for much of the north of England, North Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on Saturday, with alerts in place until midday on Easter Sunday. This may lead to disruptions in road, rail, air, and ferry travel during one of the busiest weekends for travel this year.
The AA estimates a whopping 21.7 million journeys planned across Britain for today alone, with the RAC predicting the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022. Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Holley explained that a cold blast from Canada merging with the North Atlantic will influence the weekend weather, creating strong winds and a deep low-pressure system towards the northwest of the UK by Saturday night.
Expect very strong winds later on Saturday and into Easter Sunday, with yellow wind warnings issued for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales. Wind gusts of 50-60 mph are expected widely, reaching 60-70 mph in exposed areas and possibly 80-90 mph in parts of western Scotland. Temperatures may drop below freezing in the far north, while southern regions could see highs of 17C by Easter Monday.
Last month’s rainfall patterns also reflected a north-south divide, with the south of England receiving 37% less rainfall than the long-term average, while the north and Scotland saw above-average rainfall, according to the Met Office.
