Storm Dave: Homes without power as transport disruption continues

Some homes have been left without power and transport disruption is continuing in the wake of Storm Dave.

Three yellow warnings of wind across parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales were lifted a few hours early on Easter Sunday after the storm pulled away.

However, some Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services on Scotland’s west coast were disrupted by the weather, and some motorists faced disruption due to fallen trees blocking routes.

Some properties in Scotland have been left without power following the high winds overnight.

It is understood Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) fault response teams are out on the network working to reconnect the small number of customers affected who are mainly in Skye, Caithness and coastal parts of Aberdeenshire.

Storm Dave swept in on Saturday and an amber wind warning covering parts of northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland was in place until 3am on Sunday.

The strongest gust overnight was 93mph at Capel Curig in North Wales, while gusts of 75mph were recorded at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire and St Bees Head in Cumbria, and one of 73mph was recorded at Buchan in Aberdeenshire, the Met Office said.

Three yellow warnings across parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales had been due to remain in place until midday on Easter Sunday but were lifted by around 7.30am as the weather improved.

Marco Petagna, a Met Office spokesman, said: “The winds eased down a bit more quickly than forecast across Scotland, northern England and Wales.

“Storm Dave is pulling away and the warnings are easing more quickly than forecast so the yellow warnings were no longer warranted.”

Before the severe amber weather warning was lifted, the Met Office had forecast “severe gales” across central and northern areas of the country overnight into Sunday.

There was snow in Skye and other parts of western Scotland including Inverclyde while Glasgow saw snow late in the morning on Easter Sunday and there were snow flurries elsewhere in central Scotland.

Network Rail Scotland put speed restrictions in place on some routes, with the last of these lifting at around 8am on Sunday.

The Humber Bridge linking East Yorkshire with north Lincolnshire reopened after being closed in both directions to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles early on Sunday because of strong winds, National Highways said.

Network Rail Manchester announced rail replacement bus services would run between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester because of overnight conditions.

The Met Office’s forecast for Easter Sunday said: “Storm Dave will clear north east on Sunday morning, leaving sunshine and widespread showers across the UK.

“Northern areas will see the heaviest blustery showers and feel cold, while temperatures elsewhere stay closer to average for early April.”

As of 1pm on Sunday there was one flood warning in place in Scotland and one flood warning and 17 flood alerts in England.