Met Office issues gale warnings for much of UK

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for winds of up to 70mph across the country as the blustery start to the Easter holidays continues.

Gusts of 97mph were recorded overnight in Capel Curig in Snowdonia national park, and of 80mph on Emley Moor in Yorkshire.

A commercial tug capsized in the late evening at the Esso refinery marine terminal at Fawley in Hampshire, causing two crew members to end up in the water.

Yellow “be aware” warnings remain in place, with severe winds expected throughout the day across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, although they should ease in southern England.

Looking ahead to the Easter weekend, forecasters said there was some uncertainty about how expected rain would move across the country, but that there was a chance of warmer, sunnier spells from Good Friday onwards.

Kate Brown, a Met Office forecaster, said: “Today strong winds will ease slightly, but it will remain fairly blustery through the evening and there will be showers moving into the northern and western parts of the UK.”

The Dartford crossing on the M25 has been closed to all vehicles, and Chiltern Railways said services between Aylesbury and London Marylebone have been suspended after a tree fell on the line between Moor Park and Amersham.

Northern parts of Scotland are subject to an ice warning until mid-morning with a risk of snow on higher ground, while the day ahead in Northern Ireland is set to be wet with scattered showers for much of the day.

The second half of the week should be less breezy, but with showers still affecting south-west England, Wales and eastern England.

A frontal system is expected to bring rain to western areas on Thursday, moving to Northern Ireland and then clearing eastwards on Good Friday.

Temperatures could reach around 14C (57.2F) during sunnier spells over the Easter weekend.

Brown said: “There’s a little bit of uncertainty about how this rain is going to move at the minute. We think it will gradually clear during Friday so that means we will actually see improving conditions from Good Friday into the Easter weekend.

“We could see good sunny spells in the Easter weekend itself, the winds will be much lighter, especially compared to what we have seen. Some parts will be getting temperatures of around 14C in the sunshine.”