Yellow weather warnings for wind kick in amid Christmas getaway
A weather alert for severe winds is expected to be issued in certain areas of the UK on Saturday morning, coinciding with millions of individuals traveling on the roads in preparation for Christmas.
According to the Met Office, wind speeds may hit 50-60 mph, leading to disruptions during what automotive specialists anticipate will be the busiest driving weekend of the year.
A yellow alert will be in effect from 07:00 GMT on Saturday until 21:00 GMT on Sunday for Scotland, the North West and North East regions of England, as well as certain areas of Wales and Northern Ireland.
On Sunday, the warning's coverage expands to include South West England, Derbyshire, Hampshire, sections of the West Midlands and Yorkshire, as well as the entirety of Wales and Northern Ireland.
The forecast predicts that the westerly winds will strengthen throughout Saturday.
Weather predictions indicate that there was a slight possibility of winds hitting 80mph in the northern parts of Scotland, including Orkney and Shetland, on Saturday afternoon and evening.
The Met Office also mentioned that there may be risky conditions along the coast, with big waves posing an extra threat.
Transport Scotland mentioned that weather conditions could impact road, rail, air, and ferry services, potentially leading to cancellations and limitations on bridge access.
A representative from RAC, Rod Dennis, stated, "This weekend's combination of strong winds and heavy, sometimes snowy, showers is likely to make the approximately seven million car journeys for the holiday quite tiring."
Considering non-leisure travel, it's projected that almost 14 million drivers will hit the roads this weekend, marking an all-time high, as reported by the RAC.
By Monday, the winds are predicted to calm down, but it seems a snowy Christmas is not in the cards as clouds and rain are forecasted to roll in.
The Met Office stated that having clear blue skies and snow on the ground during Christmas is "highly improbable."
Christmas Day is expected to be mostly overcast and unremarkable, according to Rebekah Hicks, who is the deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office.
