Storm Dave affected the UK during 4–5 April 2026, bringing a spell of disruptive whether to parts of the country, particularly across northern and western areas.
The storm was notable for a combination of very strong winds, heavy rainfall and, for some locations, late‑season snow. While impacts were not felt everywhere, Storm Dave marked a clear return to unsettled conditions following a relatively mild and spring‑like start to April.
In this blog, we'll look at how Storm Dave impacted parts of the UK and weather any records were set during its passing.
The development and passage of Storm Dave
Storm Dave was named on 2 April as forecasts showed an increasing risk of damaging winds and heavy precipitation. The system deepened as it crossed the UK over Easter weekend, tracking eastwards and clearing into the North Sea by Sunday.
The strongest impacts were concentrated across Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales. Further south and east, conditions were generally less severe, with blustery winds at times but longer dry intervals and some sunshine, especially later in the weekend.
Wind impacts
Wind was the most significant factor associated with Storm Dave, particularly across exposed western and northern areas. Gusts of 60–70 mph were widely recorded in these regions, with higher values in particularly exposed locations.
The strongest gust during Storm Dave was recorded at Capel Curig in Gwynedd, where a gust of 93 mph was observed. This set an Easter Saturday record maximum gust at the site. Elsewhere, Aberdaron in Gwynedd saw a max gust of 83mph, while Emley Moor in West Yorkshire and St Bees Head in Cumbria both saw max gusts of 75mph.
Many other coastal and upland locations across Wales, northern England and Scotland recorded severe gale or storm‑force gusts, leading to hazardous travel conditions, difficult coastal conditions and the risk of power disruption.
Winds gradually eased on Sunday as Storm Dave cleared, though blustery showers continued across northern areas for a time.
#StormDave continues to move in from the west, bringing heavy rain, snow across parts of Scotland, and very strong, gusty winds for many, as shown in the latest radar and satellite sequence
— Met Office (@metoffice) April 4, 2026
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/pbJqhnO7R1
Rainfall
Storm Dave also brought widespread heavy rainfall, with the highest totals focused across western Scotland, parts of northern England, Cumbria and some western upland areas elsewhere.
The highest rainfall totals during the storm was recorded at Glen Ample in Stirling, where 50 mm fell. Several other sites across Argyll and the western Highlands recorded totals in excess of 40 mm, including Rest and Be Thankful, Loch Restil and Cliff Farm. Further south, parts of Cumbria also saw notable rainfall totals approaching 30 mm.
Snow and wintry conditions
Despite being in early April, Storm Dave brought some significant wintry weather to higher ground, particularly across northern Scotland. As colder air wrapped around the system, rain turned to snow over upland areas, with drifting and blizzard conditions reported in places due to strong winds.
Snow depths of several centimetres were recorded, with Loch Glascarnoch in Ross & Cromarty reporting depths of up to 6 cm. Tulloch Bridge and Aviemore in Inverness‑shire also recorded accumulating snow, with repeated reports of heavy snow through the evening and overnight period. Elsewhere, sleet and snow mixed with rain were observed across parts of northern Scotland, Northern Ireland and upland areas of northern England.
These conditions contributed to difficult travel conditions over higher routes, adding to the overall impact of the storm.
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Regional variation in impacts
Storm Dave did not impact all parts of the UK equally. Northern and western areas experienced the brunt of the storm, with the most severe wind, rain and snow. In contrast, southern and eastern regions generally saw less disruptive weather, with breezy conditions but fewer hazards overall.
By Easter Monday, a ridge of high pressure following the storm brought a drier and more settled day for many parts of the UK. After a chilly start, most areas saw some sunny spells, marking a clear improvement following the passage of Storm Dave.
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