Some flights and ferries have been cancelled amid a “perfect storm” of the Christmas getaway and bad weather.
The disruption has been caused by strong gusts after the Met Office announced yellow warnings for parts of the country.
Heathrow Airport confirmed a “small number of flights” had been cancelled on Saturday due to “strong winds and airspace restrictions”.
A spokesperson said: “This will ensure the vast majority of passengers can still safely travel as planned.
“We know how important travel at this time of year is and have extra colleagues on hand in our terminals to support people on their journeys. We encourage passengers to check in with their airlines for the latest information about their flights.”
A spokesperson said: “Due to adverse weather conditions, all P&O Ferries sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled from 2000 tonight (21st December) until at least 2000 tomorrow night (22nd December). We ask our customers please not to travel to either of the ports if their sailing has been cancelled, to avoid causing traffic congestion.”
The AA predicted 23.7 million drivers would hit the road on Friday, making it the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
It projected that Saturday would see 22.7 million drivers and Sunday 21.3 million.
A spokesperson for the group said: “With more than 20 million car journeys expected on both Saturday and Sunday if the congestion wasn’t enough of a headache, the inclement weather could create the perfect storm.
“We advise those heading out to allow extra time to travel and increase the distance between themselves and other road users.”
The RAC has estimated seven million leisure trips will be made on major roads during the weekend, which excludes everyday traffic.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday morning, RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis urged drivers to be patient: “What we’re saying to people is just be patient. These are journeys that matter to us this time of year. Just don’t expect to get there the minute your sat-nav says it will. Allow yourself a bit of time to make it easy and get there safely.”
Sunday’s warning also includes London, the South East, the South West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and all of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Westerly winds are forecast to pick up over Saturday with 50-60mph gusts expected, with a small chance of some reaching 80mph.
“Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard, especially with respect to causeways. This period of strong winds may lead to some transport disruption, including ferry delays or cancellations.
“Frequent blustery showers will also be a feature on Saturday and may merge into a longer spell of rain for a time in the far north and north west.”
Showers could turn to several centimetres of snow on the hills in the north west of Scotland from Saturday evening into Sunday.
Some sleet, snow and hail may fall at lower levels and produce icy conditions by Sunday morning.
The strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday, meteorologists said.
A Met Office weather warning for very strong winds of up to 80mph will be in place today from 0700 until 2100 tomorrow.
This has the potential to disrupt train services, please check before you travel using the ScotRail app, website or https://t.co/3rhLVOdKTt page. pic.twitter.com/HickZNZP5T
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) December 21, 2024
Ferries have been cancelled and train services impacted as high winds hit Scotland’s Christmas getaway.
By noon on Saturday, CalMac, which operates ferry services on Scotland’s west coast, reported that sailings on 21 of its routes were cancelled for the day, with other services facing disruption.
Meanwhile, Northlink Ferries, which runs services between Aberdeen and the Orkney and Shetland isles, also reported disruption.
It said “adverse weather conditions” meant a sailing between Kirkwall on Orkney and Lerwick in the Shetland Isles was cancelled, along with sailings between Aberdeen and Lerwick, which were scheduled for Saturday evening.
Rail operator ScotRail announced that speed restrictions would be in place for part of the route between Glasgow and Oban/Mallaig, and the Inverness service to Kyle/Wick.
