Westerly winds are forecast to pick up over Saturday.

Forecasters say there was a small chance of gusts reaching 80mph in the far north of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland on Saturday afternoon and evening.

“Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard,” the Met Office added.

Transport Scotland, said road, rail, air and ferry services are “all likely to be affected by the conditions” with cancellations and restrictions on bridges possible.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “With the weekend bringing a mix of strong winds along with heavy, and in some places wintry, showers, it’s going to make many of the estimated seven million getaway trips by car a pretty exhausting experience.”

When non-leisure traffic is taken into account, nearly 14 million drivers are expected to take to road during the weekend – a new record, according to the RAC.

The winds are expected to ease by Monday, but a white Christmas is looking unlikely with cloud and rain expected to move in.

“Crisp blue skies and snow on the ground” are “decidedly unlikely” over Christmas, the Met Office said.

Christmas Day itself “will be a fairly cloudy, nondescript day”, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks added.

Share.
Exit mobile version