The human cost of the storm was felt in darkened homes and cancelled plans. Dozens of properties across Scotland were left without power as the winds brought down power lines. Engineers worked tirelessly in atrocious conditions to restore supplies, but for some, the Easter weekend was spent huddled around candles and camping stoves rather than tucking into chocolate eggs. The Forth Road Bridge and the Tay Road Bridge were both subject to restrictions, with high-sided vehicles banned and speed limits reduced. The images of waves crashing over harbour walls and snowploughs battling through drifts on highland passes served as a stark reminder of nature’s power.
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The cruel irony of the British weather was on full display. As Storm Dave was lashing the north with snow and gales, the south of England was enjoying a taste of summer. Just two days after the snow fell in the Highlands, Scotland recorded its hottest day of the year so far. This wild, capricious swing is what makes British weather so endlessly fascinating and so utterly infuriating. Storm Dave has now passed, moving out into the North Sea, and the clean-up operation is underway. The Easter getaway of 2026 will be remembered by those in the north not for its relaxation, but for the howl of the wind and the unexpected return of winter. It was a classic British bank holiday, after all.
