Rain and heavy wind warnings in place for the weekend

The Met Office has said there is rain and heavy wind warnings in place for the weekend which has the potential to be impactful.

On Saturday there is a weather warning for rain which will affect Scotland then move down into northwest England and Wales early on Sunday.

On Sunday there are warnings for wind and also into the early hours of Christmas Day in Scotland and the northeast of England.

For Shetland there is snow and ice yellow weather warnings in place and for northeast parts of Scotland during the weekend which could cause travel disruption.

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Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates said, “It’s a windy weekend for many, with some heavy rain expected too, especially in the west, with a number of weather warnings in force.

“Low pressure to the north of the UK is chiefly responsible for this period of unsettled weather, with a number of weather fronts bringing periods of heavy and persistent rain, particularly in western Scotland and Wales through Saturday and into Sunday.

“Those further east will generally see drier conditions through the weekend, though even here will see some showers at times. Temperatures in the south will be very mild for the time of year, likely peaking at around 15°C in the far southeast on Saturday.”

Keates added, “It’ll be a damp start to Christmas Day for many, though the best of any drier weather is likely in the afternoon as weather fronts gradually move to the south and east. However, the far southeast may hold on to the persistent rain the longest through the day.”

RAC Breakdown Spokesperson Rod Dennis said, “With this latest weather warning affecting a large area of Scotland and parts of northern England, there is the chance travellers’ last-minute getaway trips could be disrupted.

“If trains are significantly delayed people are more likely to shift to the roads which could add to already exceptionally high traffic volumes. Nationally, we expect around 3.2m separate getaway journeys to be made today by car.

“For this reason, we urge drivers to be on their guard for debris in the road, including branches and possibly even trees, especially along more rural routes. Gusty conditions can also make driving more difficult, so it’s advisable drivers reduce their speed and stay focused on the road ahead.”