Scots face Easter travel chaos as Storm Dave sweeps in, bringing 90mph winds, snow blizzards and torrential rain across the country this weekend.
The third named storm of 2026 is set to bring misery for Scots planning a getaway, with treacherous conditions expected to see ferries, flights, and trains delayed or cancelled.
Power cuts, road closures and damage to buildings are also possible when Dave makes landfall on Saturday, with families urged to plan ahead now.
Thermometers are also set to plummet well below freezing overnight during the weekend, making parts of the country colder than Russia’s capital Moscow.
Travel plans look set to be thwarted as the entire country is now under three weather warnings from Saturday, with a month’s worth of rain forecast to fall over two days as gale force winds batter Scotland.
Up to seven inches [20cm] of snow is also predicted for northern areas with ‘hazardous’ gusts causing blizzards and drifting conditions.
Laura and Moira Wilson gather Easter eggs at Traquair House in Innerleithen
Jen Black walks her dog Fern through the snow at Daviot near Inverness
Transport Scotland said the high winds and snowy conditions could affect road, rail, air and ferry travel.
George Fiddes from the agency said: ‘Motorists should check their planned routes before setting off.
‘The latest information on the trunk road network is available at the Traffic Scotland website, which will also have details of any ‘wind based’ closures for bridges. The Traffic Scotland X page is also updated regularly.’
AGS, which owns Glasgow and Aberdeen international airports, urged passengers ‘to plan ahead and stay informed’ amid potential flight disruptions.
Passengers were also advised to allow extra time, particularly those using the M8, where ‘ongoing roadworks could cause delays’.
Edinburgh Airport echoed the advice for passengers ‘to check… the latest information on their flight’.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said the strong winds and snow would bring an ‘increased risk of debris on the railway’ but said staff would be working hard to keep services running.
The first warning for wind covers the entire mainland, Western Isles and Inner Hebrides between 6pm on Saturday and midday on Easter Sunday, before a second warning for gales kicks in between 7pm tomorrow and 7am the following morning covering the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
Gusts of between 50-60mph are expected widely, with up to 70mph possible in more exposed areas, potentially reaching as high as 90mph in western parts of the country.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: ‘A storm this deep is likely to bring impacts to the coast and inland areas, and now that trees are acquiring leaves this makes them more vulnerable to impacts.’
