Gales and blizzards - Storm Dave disrupts Easter weekend

This Easter weekend already looks to be a stormy one, with Storm Dave set to be the fourth named storm of the season.

A number of weather warnings for wind have already been issued for Saturday and Easter Sunday for strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and some northern areas of England and Wales.

In western Scotland, snow warnings also also in effect. The strong winds combining with falling snow will result in periods of blizzard conditions, especially above about 200 metres, where up to 20 cm could fall locally.

Gusts peak between 50 - 60 mph widely within the warnings areas, with stronger gusts of up to 70 mph in elevated, exposed areas.

Current indicators also present a risk of severe gales, up to 90 mph, in exposed parts of western Scotland as the system passes through Saturday night.

While the strong winds present the most prominent threat, they are also joined by heavy rainfall across Ireland and Scotland, possibly resulting in local flooding, while wave overtopping around high tides could be an issue around some coasts.