Millions of households are being told to "prepare for power cuts" as the Met Office has confirmed Storm Dave is set to batter the north this Easter weekend.
The Met Office has issued multiple yellow weather warnings as a rapidly deepening low-pressure system approaches from the west.
Yellow warnings for wind span the entirety of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and portions of northern England.
With severe weather raising the prospect of power outages, energy specialists at Utility Bidder have offered guidance for households across affected regions.
Households are being told to 'prepare for power cuts'
|GETTY / MET OFFICE
Mark Gamble, the head of Supplier Relations at Utility Bidder, said: "If you're not prepared for a power cut, they can be stressful and overwhelming, and can largely disrupt everyday life."
He advised keeping a torch with spare batteries readily available as an alternative light source, rather than relying on candles, which present a fire hazard.
Mr Gamble also recommended maintaining supplies of non-perishable food and water to avoid dependence on refrigerated items.
However, he noted that freezer contents remain safe for up to 12 hours if the door stays closed, while fridge items stay fresh for approximately four hours.
The Met Office has published information regarding Storm Dave's potential trajectory
|MET OFFICE
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
WX Charts map shows Storm Dave over the UK | WX CHARTSMr Gamble emphasised the importance of taking immediate action when power fails unexpectedly.
Household appliances such as ovens and irons should be switched off, while televisions ought to be unplugged to guard against power surges when electricity returns.
Modern boilers require electricity to operate regardless of whether they run on gas, oil, or electricity.
During extended blackouts, Gamble recommended turning off boilers entirely to minimise the risk of surge damage when power is restored.
Alex points out Saturday’s big one | MET OFFICEFor those with solar panels, the systems will automatically shut down during outages as a safety measure. Installing battery storage can provide emergency power, though capacity remains limited.
The Met Office's deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said: "Storm Dave will form and rapidly deepen on Saturday as it approaches the UK from the west.
"By Saturday afternoon winds will strengthen significantly, with gusts of 60-70mph expected at times across parts of Scotland with the potential for gusts of 80-90mph in exposed coastal locations in Scotland.
"Gusts of 50-60mph are likely more widely in northern Britain." He added: "As well as strong winds, Storm Dave will also bring heavy snowfall over the hills in northern Scotland where up to 10-20cm of snow could accumulate.
"Along with the strong winds this will lead to blizzard conditions." Crabtree urged residents to secure their properties ahead of the severe weather and monitor forecast updates, noting that warnings may be amended as the storm approaches."