As Storm Nelson his the Easter break, ferries across the channel face delays and cancellations because of the bad weather. All services at Dover are operating with delays, and several channel crossings are cancelled
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UK Easter weekend weather forecast
Ferry services across the English Channel face delays and cancellations as Storm Nelson ploughs into Britain – just before the Easter holiday rush begins.
According to Ferry company DFDS, all services at Dover are operating with delays, with numerous crossings forced to be cancelled due to gale force winds. It comes as a severe weather warning has been issued across Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink train services as the storm hits the south coast of England.
National Rail has said trains could be cancelled or affected by delays due to high winds and heavy rain, as the storm is predicted to bring winds of up 70mph to areas of England. Disruption is expected from midday until the evening. Stronger winds are also expected across coastal routes, with speed restrictions in place to protect passengers between Bournemouth and Weymouth. The Met Office has forecast winds of more than 60mph, affecting some trains at London Waterloo.
The warning comes ahead of a predicted “Carmageddon” – with motorists being advised journeys could take twice as long as 14 million Easter getaways are planned. Meanwhile an estimated 2 million British holidaymakers are set to jet off abroad over the Easter weekend, with one airport bracing for “record-breaking” passenger numbers.
Turkey, Dubai and the Canary Islands are among the most popular destinations amid wet and windy weather forecast for the UK, although trips to Dublin are also in demand. 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.
Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “It’s exciting that record numbers of people will be taking off from here this Easter: 320,000 people will travel (through the airport) over the bank holiday weekend – that’s up 7% on April 2023.””
