Strong winds batter UK as Easter weekend kicks off

Winds of up to 70mph have battered the south coast, along with hail and thunder, as the Easter weekend kicks off.

A man watches waves as they hit a seawall in Cornwall. Pic: PA

The weekend is set to be “unsettled” but “bright and breezy”, according to the Met Office forecast.

Yellow weather warnings for rain and strong winds were issued across parts of the south of England and Northern Ireland respectively on Thursday.

A ferry arrives at the Port of Dover in Kent during rough seas. Pic: PA

Find out the forecast for where you live

The caution for the south of England expired at 11.59pm on Thursday while the warning for Northern Ireland said “a few” homes and businesses could be flooded and is in place until 3am on Friday.

Pic: Met Office

The unsettled conditions are expected to continue into Easter, as the bank holiday weekend leads into a two-week break for many schools.

Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson said Good Friday will be less windy than Thursday, with a few showers around on Saturday and Easter Sunday, along with pleasant sunny spells.

Temperatures of up to 15C (59F) are expected in west London and 14C (57.2F) in Manchester on Sunday, which is typical for the time of year.

King delivers personal Easter message

Man arrested over death of Gogglebox star

Owners of Crooked House appeal against rebuild order

Rain is then set to return to the south on Easter Monday.

It comes as Britons have been warned of long delays over their Easter getaways with more than 14 million journeys expected on the roads alone.

Traffic in Dover. Pic: PA

At least three major airports have said that the coming days will be their busiest-ever Easter weekend while 493 different pieces of planned engineering works are set to take place on the railways.

PA file pic