Storm Dave left thousands of homes across Wales and Northern Ireland without power and disrupted road and rail travel across the UK before high wind and snow warnings were lifted on Sunday morning.
Winds of up to 93mph were recorded in Capel Curig in north Wales – 20mph higher than forecast – while the Met Office issued a yellow severe weather warning for heavy snow and blizzards across the Scottish Highlands, Argyll and the Western Isles on Saturday.
Some train and ferry services in Scotland and Northern Ireland were cancelled, and in Ireland, Dublin airport cancelled 17 flights as pilots struggled to land in the windy conditions.
Approximately 2,000 homes in County Armagh and County Down lost power in the high winds, while in Wales, Glynneath and Abergavenny were worst-affected by power cuts.
Services have mostly been restored. The amber wind warning covering parts of northern England, north-west Wales and southern Scotland was lifted at 3am, while three yellow warnings across parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales were lifted later in the morning as the storm swept out into the North Sea.
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.”
Flood warnings and alerts remained in place around the country: four coastal flood warnings and 32 flood alerts across England, 12 flood warnings and eight flood alerts across Scotland, and eight flood warnings in Wales.
ScotRail said emergency speed restrictions would continue across parts of its network on Sunday, resulting in longer travel times, while Network Rail Manchester announced rail replacement bus services between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester due to the overnight weather conditions.
Many bridges still face traffic restrictions, including Edinburgh’s Forth Road Bridge. The Humber Bridge in Yorkshire has reopened after being closed overnight.
In Northern Ireland, some council facilities remained closed. Visitors were advised to stay clear of parks and nature reserves.
The Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said temperatures were expected to rise after Easter Monday as warmer air arrived from Europe, with “temperatures rising to the low 20s, with highs around 20C or 21C (68 or 70F) on Tuesday, and possibly 23C or 24C come Wednesday”.
