Two million British holidaymakers are set to jet off over the Easter weekend, with their getaways being threatened by Storm Nelson which has already seen torrential rain deluge roads, trains delayed by high winds and planes aborting landings.
Manchester airport has said it is bracing for ‘record-breaking’ passenger numbers, with many hoping to head to Turkey, Dubai and the Canary Islands as the UK is set to be lashed by wet and windy weather.
Ferries were cancelled today as the UK endured 80mph gusts, snow, hail and thunder while parks, zoos and gardens had to close with the south of England particularly badly hit.
The Met Office extended a 17-hour wind warning to cover the whole of the south coast from Cornwall to Kent and up to Suffolk with strong gusts until midnight.
Also today, the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation warned there was a ‘low end chance’ of one up chocolate bar mold or two tornadoes developing over an area of England including London – with a Met Office meteorologist saying ‘the odd tornado’ was possible.
It comes as Travel trade organisation Abta said airports are reporting ‘strong numbers’, with 175,000 due to leave from Stansted, 105,000 from Luton, 160,000 from Manchester, 79,000 from Birmingham, and 89,000 from Edinburgh between Friday and Monday.
Travellers hoping to reach the continent on ferries faced cancellations on Thursday, with DFDS stopping some ferries from Dover to Calais and Dieppe to Newhaven.
Drivers were told to expect ‘carmageddon’ amid the ‘danger to life’ weather alert as families on leisure journeys competed for road space with regular commuters.
Some 14million getaway trips across the weekend are set to cause gridlock on the roads, with some journeys expected to take twice as long as normal because the bank holiday coincides with the start of a two-week holiday for many schools.
An easyJet pilot has to abort a landing at London Gatwick Airport today in the strong winds
Cars drive through the heavy rain on the A3 in Surrey near Chessington this afternoon
Traffic builds up on the M25 motorway near Cobham in Surrey today as the getaway begins
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Large waves crash over the harbour wall as Storm Nelson arrives at Newhaven in Sussex today
Storm Nelson brings heavy rain and strong winds to Bournemouth seafront in Dorset today
People take cover on Brighton beach in East Sussex today as Storm Nelson hits Britain
Two men get a soaking at the ‘Doughnut’ on Brighton seafront in East Sussex this afternoon
TODAY: Wet and windy conditions are expected to hit many parts of Britain throughout today
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation warned there was a ‘low end chance’ of one or two tornadoes developing over an area of England including London (shaded in yellow)
