Britons are braced for a travel nightmare before Christmas as 600-mile wide Storm Pia sweeps in tomorrow with 80mph gusts and a ‘danger to life’ warning.
The storm, named by the Danish Meteorological Institute, will hit from midnight tonight with a 21-hour Met Office wind warning imposed until 9pm tomorrow.
The alert covers the whole of Scotland and North Wales as well as parts of East Anglia, the Midlands and northern England – with the strongest winds expected over and to the east of higher ground, mainly across the north of the warning area.
National Rail has warned of speed restrictions on trains, with routes in Scotland such as Edinburgh to Inverness and Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig already affected.
The impacts could also be felt into the getaway on Friday when The AA has activated an ‘amber traffic warning’ amid estimates of 16.1million car journeys that day.
Friday is also expected to be the busiest-ever day in the Christmas season at major UK airports with 250,000 passengers passing through London Heathrow that day.
Saturday is then set to be the peak travel day on the trains as passengers race to get home before engineering works and festive shutdowns begin across the network.
The Met Office said it is likely to remain windy into the weekend, as the area of low pressure moves away to the east across Scandinavia, with frequent showers continuing in western areas. However, the South East should remain mostly dry.
The AA has predicted that Friday and Saturday will be the busiest days on the UK’s roads
![The RAC said 13.5 million leisure journeys by car are expected between Friday and Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/79162843-12884701-The_RAC_said_13_5_million_leisure_journeys_by_car_are_expected_b-a-18_1703068506391.jpg)
The RAC said 13.5 million leisure journeys by car are expected between Friday and Sunday
![The AA issued this route planner map for the 'amber traffic warning' on December 22 and 23](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/78815183-12884701-The_AA_issued_this_route_planner_map_for_the_amber_traffic_warni-a-16_1703068418973.jpg)
The AA issued this route planner map for the ‘amber traffic warning’ on December 22 and 23
![Storm Pia, named by the Danish Meteorological Institute, will hit the UK from midnight tonight](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/79082339-12884701-Storm_Pia_named_by_the_Danish_Meteorological_Institute_will_hit_-a-20_1703068517539.jpg)
Storm Pia, named by the Danish Meteorological Institute, will hit the UK from midnight tonight
The Met Office warning said strong west to north-westerly winds are likely to develop across a large swathe of the UK overnight tonight into tomorrow.
Winds are expected to gust ‘quite widely’ at 45 to 55mph, with stronger gusts possibly reaching 65 to 70mph ‘over and to the east of high ground, mainly across the north of the warning area’.
Forecasters added that the strongest winds are likely to be across the far North and North East of Scotland, including the Northern Isles during the morning where guests of 70mph to 80mph are possible.
While the strongest winds will be in Scotland, over in East Anglia parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as Cambridge, Peterborough and Northampton could also be hit by big gusts.
Winds are then expected to ‘slowly moderate from the west’ tomorrow evening.
The warning also said there was a chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected, and there could be damage to buildings such as ’tiles blown from roofs’.
There is also a chance of power cuts with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage.
Meanwhile the Met Office said ‘injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties’.
Forecasters added that there is a ‘small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris’ and a chance that some roads and bridges could close.
Network Rail issues its own disruption warning, saying ‘strong winds are forecast which may affect your journey on Wednesday and Thursday’.
It said trains may have to run at slower speeds while winds could bring down trees and other debris that could block tracks and damage power lines.
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![Heavy traffic on the M25 motorway at junction 12 near Heathrow on December 23 last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/78802565-12884701-Heavy_traffic_on_the_M25_motorway_at_junction_12_near_Heathrow_o-a-40_1703069078599.jpg)
Heavy traffic on the M25 motorway at junction 12 near Heathrow on December 23 last year
On the roads, festive getaway traffic is expected to peak earlier than normal this year as Christmas Day falls on a Monday.
DESTINATION | LAST TRAIN | FROM | TRAIN OPERATOR |
---|---|---|---|
Aberdeen | None direct | ||
Birmingham New Street | 17:22 | Euston | London Northwestern |
Birmingham New Street | 17:39 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Birmingham Moor Street | 20:00 | Marylebone | Chiltern Railways |
Brighton | 19:51 | London Bridge | Thameslink |
Bristol | None direct | ||
Cambridge | 21:28 | Liverpool Street | Greater Anglia |
Cardiff Central | None direct | ||
Crewe | 17:42 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Edinburgh | 09:52 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Exeter St Davids | 18:20 | Waterloo | South Western Railway |
Gatwick Airport | 19:46 | Victoria | Southern |
Gatwick Airport | 20:15 | London Bridge | Thameslink |
Glasgow Central | 16:29 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Heathrow Airport | None direct | ||
Hull | 12:30 | St Pancras | Hull Trains |
Ipswich | 21:00 | Liverpool Street | Greater Anglia |
Leeds | None direct | ||
Leicester | 20:02 | St Pancras | East Midlands Railway |
Liverpool Lime Street | 17:42 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Luton | 20:06 | St Pancras | Thameslink |
Manchester Piccadilly | 17:52 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Newcastle | None direct | ||
Northampton | 20:20 | Euston | London Northwestern |
Norwich | 21:00 | Liverpool Street | Greater Anglia |
Oxford | 20:12 | Marylebone | Chiltern Railways |
Peterborough | None direct | ||
Portsmouth Harbour | 20:30 | Waterloo | South Western Railway |
Preston | 16:29 | Euston | Avanti West Coast |
Reading | 21:09 | Waterloo | South Western Railway |
Sevenoaks | 21:46 | Charing Cross | Southeastern |
Sheffield | 19:32 | St Pancras | East Midlands Railway |
Southampton Central | None direct | ||
Southend Victoria | 21:37 | Liverpool Street | Greater Anglia |
Stansted Airport | 23:25 | Liverpool Street | Greater Anglia |
Swansea | None direct | ||
Windsor | 20:44 | Waterloo | South Western Railway |
Worcester | None direct | ||
York | None direct |
The AA predicted that Friday and Saturday will be the busiest days on the UK’s roads in the festive period.
Christmas Eve is traditionally the main day for getaway journeys, but this year many people are taking advantage of a weekend immediately preceding Christmas Day to make trips to friends and family.
The AA estimated that 16.1 million car journeys will take place on Friday and 16.4 million on Saturday.
It issued an ‘amber traffic warning’ for those days as it warned of ‘lengthy jams’.
The M25, the M5 between Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare and the M6 around Birmingham were identified as motorway stretches where bumper-to-bumper conditions are likely.
Other potential hotspots include stretches of the M1 from Luton northwards, the M62 and M60 in the North West and the M4 which connects London with South Wales.
AA president Edmund King urged drivers to pack essentials such as water, high-protein food or chocolate, warm clothes and a hi-vis jacket in case they get stranded.
To avoid the chances of a breakdown, Mr King recommended people carry out vehicle checks before setting off, such as on tyres, fuel, oil, coolant and screenwash.
He said: ‘While Friday and Saturday look set to be the busiest travelling days, the unsettled weather forecast could lead to additional delays so drivers should drive to the conditions and slow down where necessary.
‘New Year’s Day will be the quietest day on the roads which is probably a good thing especially if drivers have been partying the previous evening.
‘Drivers can still be breathalysed and lose their licence for driving over the limit the morning after.’
Meanwhile the RAC warmed of daily delays with UK drivers expected to make 21 million leisure trips between Monday of this week and Christmas Eve.
The organisation said getaway traffic will climb slowly at the start of this week before jumping from 2.2million trips tomorrow to 3.2 million on Friday, the last working day before Christmas Day.
Some 13.5 million leisure journeys by car are expected between Friday and Christmas Eve, up 20 per cent on the equivalent period last year.
Congestion is likely to peak on Friday as drivers embarking on getaway trips compete for road space with commuters and business traffic.
Transport analysis company Inrix warned there are likely to be ‘daily delays of around 40 minutes’ between Friday and Christmas Eve on the M25 clockwise west of London.
It predicted the worst queues on the motorway network will be on the M25 clockwise between junction 7 (for the M23/Gatwick airport) and junction 16 (for the M40/Birmingham) on Friday.
Drivers heading anti-clockwise between junction 17 (Rickmansworth) and junction 12 (for the M3) on the same day are also being warned to prepare for hold-ups.
Other motorway stretches identified as potential hotspots include the M1 north from Woburn, Bedfordshire to Daventry, Northamptonshire and the M6 south from Wigan, Greater Manchester to Stafford, Staffordshire.
During the weekend before Christmas, between 12pm and 2pm is expected to be the busiest time to travel on the roads.
Drivers are advised to set out before 11am or after 6pm to reduce the chance of being stuck in long queues.
National Highways said it will remove more than 1,000 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A roads by 6am on Tuesday.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/79076255-12884701-image-a-24_1703069040474.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/79076261-12884701-image-a-25_1703069042581.jpg)
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That means more than 98 per cent of its network will be free of roadworks until January 2.
RAC spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: ‘Since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, there’s no need for drivers to use annual leave for getaway trips as they can travel over the weekend before.
‘For that very reason, our research suggests these days will be the busiest times to drive, so we urge people to set off as early as possible on Saturday and Sunday.’
She advised drivers to carry out vehicle checks before setting off, such as on tyres, fuel, oil, coolant and screenwash.
Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue said: ‘Our recommendation is to avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps to minimise holiday travel traffic frustrations.’
Rail services will also be disrupted over the festive period due to Network Rail carrying out engineering work.
London Paddington will be closed between Christmas Eve and Wednesday December 27, meaning no mainline trains will serve Heathrow Airport during that period.
Long-distance services will start and end at Reading, with connecting trains to and from Ealing Broadway or London Waterloo.
The most-booked intercity train over the festive period is believed to be the Great Western Railway service from London Paddington to Penzance at 10.03am on Saturday, reported the Independent.
London King’s Cross will be closed on Christmas Eve.
Southeastern services that usually operate to or from London Victoria will be diverted to Blackfriars, Charing Cross and Cannon Street between December 23 and New Year’s Day.
Outside of the capital, an engineering project near Southampton will see some disruption to services, as will work to build the new Cambridge South station.
No trains will operate on Christmas Day, with a very limited service running on Boxing Day.
Lawrence Bowman, network strategy director for Network Rail, said: ‘We understand how important this time of year is for our passengers for reconnecting with family and friends.
‘With more than 96 per cent of the network open for business as usual, we have tried as far as possible to design our investment projects around our passengers and keep disruption to a minimum.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/79126219-12884701-image-a-14_1703068273624.jpg)
![Prices for the cheapest possible ticket available across the six trips analysed by rail and plane](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/10/79165035-12884701-Prices_for_the_cheapest_possible_ticket_available_across_the_six-a-15_1703068275736.jpg)
Prices for the cheapest possible ticket available across the six trips analysed by rail and plane
‘We are carrying out some significant projects, not as many as past years, but still some £127million of investment ranging from laying new track, installing new bridges and making improvements to stations so that passengers can benefit from better and more reliable services and facilities.
‘We plan our Christmas engineering programmes months- and in some cases years, in advance and target the quietest times, overnight, weekends and Christmas Day and Boxing Day to ensure we keep what disruption there is to an absolute minimum and will always looks to use diversions rather than put people on buses.
‘But some routes will see disruption as we upgrade the railway, so it’s important that passengers check their journeys before travelling.’
Airports will be busy with many people heading overseas for festive holidays or arriving in the UK to spend Christmas with loved ones.
Heathrow Airport expects 6.5million passengers will travel through its terminals this month, with tens of thousands departing on Christmas Day.
The airport will be as busy as a peak day in summer on the last Friday before Christmas – dubbed ‘Flyaway Friday’, according to the Independent.
That day is also expected to see pressure on Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool airports, with passengers warned over long queues for security.
East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester airports are set to be busiest on Saturday.
Meanwhile National Express coaches are most in demand on Saturday, while rival operators Flixbus and Megabus say they are equally busy on Friday and Saturday.