Christmas travel warning as Storm Pia to batter UK with 80mph winds as Met Office say snow likely – live

Some railway lines in Scotland are closed completely due to Storm Pia. Even on stretches that are open one operator is urging passengers not to attempt to make Anglo-Scottish journeys.

TransPennine Express is advising passengers not to try to travel in or out of Edinburgh until after 3pm, with no services running between Edinburgh and north west England until Thursday afternoon.

Network Rail Scotland is telling passengers: “We’ll suspend train services on some routes on Thursday until we can safely inspect our tracks for fallen trees and debris.

“Those lines are the West Highland Line (including lines to Oban and Mallaig), Kyle of Lochalsh Line, Far North Line and Inverness-Inverurie.

“Speed restrictions will also be in place across the Highland Mainline, as well as some central belt, south-west Scotland and cross-border routes.

“Our local maintenance teams are well prepared, with additional chainsaw gangs ready to clear fallen trees and extra staff on hand across the country.”

LNER is curtailing trains that would normally serve northern Scotland and says: “Some LNER services between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross will terminate or start at Newcastle.”

The train operator has lifted restrictions for tickets dated Thursday 21 December. Tickets are valid on LNER services throughout Thursday 21 December and Friday 22 December.

Northern warns of speed restrictions on a number of lines, adding 45 minutes to journeys.

Network Rail has confirmed services in Scotland will be delayed this morning as they assess the damage done by Storm Pia overnight.

Due to the risk of trees and debris blocking the lines following 80mph winds due tonight, Network Rail said some rail lines will need to be inspected before passenger services can begin to run.

A spokesperson told The Independent that they believe the delays will be in place until at least mid-morning.

“Services on some routes will be significantly impacted by Storm Pia, and in addition to some cancellations on the routes most impacted, customers can expect short notice changes to their journeys,” David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said.

“We will be working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail Scotland to ensure we are able to keep people moving as much as possible, but customers should also expect that their journeys will take longer than usual.”

Lines affected include the West Highland line, Kyle of Lochalsh line, Far North line, and the Inverness-Inverurie line.

Speed restrictions will also be in place across the Highland Mainline, as well as some central belt, south-west Scotland and cross-border routes.

Brits across the UK will wake up this morning to feel the effects of Storm Pia.

Although the storm – named by the Danish Met Office – will mainly impact Denmark, some parts of the UK will feel wind gusts of up to 80mph.

Here’s Thursday’s forecast according to the Met Office:

As it’s revealed that some parts of the UK will see a white Christmas, the Met Office has also shared what New Year’s celebrations may look like for Brits.

Looking towards the New Year, the forecasters said that weather looks to remain unsettled with low pressure bringing breezy and wet conditions for many, but there will be some drier and brighter interludes.

In terms of winter snow, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: “Beyond Christmas Day further rain or showers and strong winds are likely for many, and again any sleet and snow will be mainly over the hills of Scotland, as is often the case in December.”

Storm Pia is due to impact the UK’s weather from midnight tonight – but where will be hit the worst?

The storm was named by the Danish Met Office and will likely impact Denmark more than the UK.

In Britain, the north of Scotland is expected to be hit the worst with wind speeds of up to 80mph. Meanwhile, 45-55mph wind gusts will hit elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Scotland, North Wales and England north of Birmingham as well as the top half of East Anglia.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: “Exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts of 70-80mph at times, mainly across the far north of Scotland. There’s a chance this low pressure will continue to exert its influence into Friday, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest Met Office forecast.

“This system has been named Storm Pia by the Danish Met Service, with the system likely to have more severe impacts in Denmark.”

Forecasters say it is highly likely the UK will see a white Christmas this year – in certain areas at least.

With millions planning their Christmas getaway, Britons will be keen to know whether ice and snow will be on the cards when they hit the roads and railways towards the end of the week. The Met Office said it had a “high degree of confidence” there would be snowfall over the festive period.

However, the forecaster stressed this does not necessarily mean the country will be covered in blankets of the white stuff and has urged people not to get their hopes up for a “picture perfect white landscape”.

Dry with clear spells across the south and east. Elsewhere remaining cloudy with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heavier bursts pushing south across Scotland followed by clear spells and showers. Widely windy with gales developing, strongest in the north.

Wet and windy on Thursday, particularly across northern areas where gales or severe gales are likely. Showers across the north, these increasingly wintry over the mountains of Scotland later.

Remaining unsettled in the run up to Christmas with further rain. Generally mild, but turning colder in the north from Sunday with some wintriness possible over the high ground.

A deep area of low pressure will expected to move to the north of the UK over the Norwegian Sea through tonight and into tomorrow.

This area will bring very strong winds and heavy showers to a large portion of the UK, with a yellow warning covering Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and the north of Wales.

“From late Wednesday into Thursday, strong winds are likely to develop across a large area of the UK,” Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said.

“We’ve issued a large yellow warning area where there’s a potential for some impacts, but gusts of 50-60mph are possible for large parts of central and northern areas of the UK.”

“Exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts of 70-80mph at times.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warning has come into place in the UK as Storm Pia wrecks havoc ahead of Christmas.

The warning was triggered at midnight on Wednesday and is expected to remain in place until 9pm on Thursday. Extreme weather will affect all areas of the UK north of Birmingham as well as the east coast above Norwich.

• Some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
• Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport expected
• Some short term loss of power and other services
• Coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves
• Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges

As Storm Pia is set to batter the UK less than a week before the big day, there are still some uncertainties in the details of the forecast for Christmas Day.

Met Office Meteorologist Alex Burkill said there is “reasonable chance” that the UK will see a white Christmas this year. However, by the Met Office’s definition this means just one flake of snow falling in any part of the UK.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, explained: “Christmas Day looks like being fairly unsettled in northern and western areas.

Any showers in the north could be wintry with hail and thunder, but even here, any snow will be mainly on high ground.

“The south of the country will see the best of the drier and brighter conditions. While temperatures will be near normal for the time of year it will be a windy day for many meaning it will feel colder.”