Gales are set to dominate the Christmas getaway after warnings for high winds were extended across the whole of the weekend.
Yellow warnings had already been issued across the north of Scotland on Saturday – with gusts of up to 80mph expected to batter Ross-shire, Sutherland, Caithness, the Hebrides and Orkney, and speeds of up to 60mph predicted for the rest of the Highlands and Scotland.
But the Met Office has now extended the warning period, with a new alert covering the whole of Scotland (bar the Northern Isles), Northern Ireland, Wales, and north, west and south-west England, now issued for Sunday.
That alert will immediately follow on from Saturday’s warnings and run until 9pm on Sunday night.
Sunday’s gusts are expected to top out at 70mph on exposed coasts and hills, and 50-60mph “quite widely” elsewhere.
Describing the newly-issued Sunday warning, a Met Office spokesperson said: “Strong and gusty northwesterly winds are expected to develop on Sunday. Gusts of 50-60 mph are expected quite widely, and around some exposed coasts and hills of gusts 70 mph are possible, especially in the north and west. In addition, squally showers are likely with some hail and thunder possible in places.
“This has the potential to cause delays to public transport and some disruption to the road network, which may have a greater than usual impact given the busier pre-Christmas weekend travel. Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard.”
News that the wind warnings will be in place for virtually all of Saturday and Sunday will be a blow for festive travellers, with transport chiefs expecting many people plan to use the final weekend before Christmas to make journeys to visit loved ones or head off on holiday.
The gales have already caused some disruption, with the likes of Inverness Farmers’ Market cancelled on Saturdayand the Met Office warning of likely disruption to sea, air, rail and road transport.
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