Millions of travellers are facing more major disruption today as bad weather and heavy traffic combine to create a ‘perfect storm’ on the transport network ahead of Christmas.
Around 100 flights were cancelled at Heathrow Airport yesterday, with more due today, while roads, ferries and rail services across the UK faced widespread problems during the busiest weekend of the year with 66 million car journeys expected.
Last night, the Humber Bridge was also closed to high-sided vehicles, with the Forth and Tay bridges shut to double-decker buses and 40mph restrictions imposed on other vehicles until 11pm tonight.
It comes after the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings covering northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland with some areas facing up to 80mph winds.
The warning was set to be widened further today to take in south-west England, Derbyshire, Hampshire, parts of the West Midlands and Yorkshire, and all of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yesterday, the AA labelled it the ‘perfect storm’ for travel chaos as an estimated 21.3 million drivers took to the roads today, followed by 22.7 million making their journeys tomorrow and 21.6 million on Christmas Eve.
The RAC warned it could be a ‘pretty exhausting experience’ and urged drivers to ‘be patient’.
A Met Office spokesman said: ‘Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard, especially with respect to causeways.’
Long delays at the Port of Dover saw holidaymakers in long queues as they tried to board the ferry for the Christmas getaway earlier today
Queues on the A102 Blackwall Tunnel approach in Greenwich South East London as the Christmas getaway begins on December 21
Motorists in endless queues of traffic trying to get their ferries this morning as they face long delays at the port to get away for their Christmas holidays today
Predicted congestion hotspots include:
- Both directions of the M1 to Gatwick via the M25 and the M23;
- Liverpool to Chester on the M53;
- Oxford to the south coast via the A34 and the M3;
- The M25 to the south coast along the M3;
- The Taunton to Almondsbury Interchange in Bristol heading down the M5.
- It comes as the Met Office also warned of a ‘grey Christmas’ with cloudy and miserable weather predicted for Christmas Day.
At least 15,000 passengers hoping to fly out for Christmas were affected by the cancellations at Heathrow due to ‘strong winds and airspace restrictions’.
A spokesman for the airport 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.’ P&O Ferries cancelled journeys between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in
Scotland yesterday for at least 24 hours ‘due to adverse weather conditions’. The sailings will not resume until at least 8pm today.
Passengers are being asked to stay away from the ports.
Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings covering northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland with some areas facing up to 80mph winds for Sunday
The RAC warned it could be pretty exhausting experience, urging drivers to remain patient ahead of the Christmas traffic chaos tomorrow
‘We ask our customers please not to travel to either of the ports if their sailing has been cancelled, to avoid causing traffic congestion,’ a company spokesman said.
The strong winds saw the M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire closed in both directions yesterday between J1 (Aust) and J2 (Chepstow). The A66 in North Yorkshire and Cumbria was partly closed due to the gusts, according to National Highways.
Rail passengers faced delays and cancellations yesterday due to disruption caused by the bad weather and staff shortages. Great Northern and Thameslink apologised for ‘cancellations and service changes’ in south-east England.
Passengers in northern in north-west England will experience further cancellations today as trains are axed on six routes including Blackpool South to Preston and Oxenholme to Windermere.
Friday was the busiest day on the roads since AA records began in 2010 with 23.7 million people driving. ‘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,’ an AA spokesman said.
‘We advise those heading out to allow extra time to travel and increase the distance between themselves and other road users.’