Scotland braces for Storm Dave as 90mph winds and blizzards set to hit most of the country

Scotland is set to be battered by strong winds and blizzards as Storm Dave comes into force over Easter weekend.

Storm Dave will bring a spell of very strong winds from late Saturday into Easter Sunday morning, which could cause damage and travel disruption.

The Met Office has issued three yellow weather warnings for Scotland, with two covering severe winds and a third for heavy snow and blizzards.

The alert for snow, covering parts of Moray and the Highlands, will come into force at 2pm on Saturday and will remain in place until 3am on Sunday morning.

A yellow alert for strong winds, covering much of the mainland, will then come into force from 6pm on Saturday and will continue through until noon on Sunday.

The third alert, also for wind, covers the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, and will come into force from 5pm on Saturday, continuing through until 7am on Sunday.

Gusts could reach up to 60mph in some parts of the country, with 90mph possible in more exposed locations.

Along the coast, the public is being urged to beware of large waves, which could create dangerous conditions.

The snow and blizzard conditions are likely to affect travel in parts of northwest Scotland.

ScotRail has announced speed restrictions on a number of services due to high winds in parts of Ayrshire, the Highlands, the Borders and the Kyle line.

Across Saturday evening, snow could turn heavier and, as winds increase, blizzard conditions with drifting and blowing snow are likely to lead to very poor visibility across the hills and mountains of the northwest of the country.

More scattered isolated sleet and snow showers are then expected to follow into Sunday daytime.

Insight Sean Batty STV meteorologist

The most unsettled weather is expected Saturday night into Easter Sunday, as a vigorous storm system moves across the country.

This could bring gusts of around 50mph quite widely, with peaks closer to 70mph along exposed coasts in the north and west, including the Hebrides. This system may even be named, so keep an eye on updates.

Easter Sunday itself will remain windy, especially across Orkney and Shetland, where stormy conditions could persist for much of the day as the system pulls away towards Norway.

Elsewhere, expect frequent showers in the west, gusty winds, and snow over the hills. Some heavier showers may also bring hail or sleet to lower levels.

Easter Monday looks more settled for most, with a good deal of dry and sunny weather. However, winds may strengthen again across the Hebrides later in the day, with gusts around 50mph possible.