This afternoon marks the onset of traffic congestion as individuals in Britain prepare for congested roads and extended queues while returning home following their four-day Easter holiday.
Approximately two million vacationers are embarking on their return journeys today, anticipating the most severe traffic in the southwest of England and the Home Counties.
Significant queues have already formed on the M5 stretch between Bristol and Taunton, with vehicles moving slowly in close succession.
In certain sections of the motorway, traffic congestion has led to speeds as low as 16mph, resulting in delays of up to 30 minutes.
Reports also indicate prolonged queues at the A102M Blackwall tunnel in Greenwich, southeast London.
Furthermore, this afternoon witnessed holiday chaos across the British rail network, with extensive engineering work impacting routes through London Euston, London Liverpool Street, and the Elizabeth Line.
Travelers attempting to return from Portugal are encountering distress as they face ‘chaos’ at Faro International Airport due to staffing shortages causing delays lasting up to three hours.
The looming threat of floods nationwide has heightened concerns about potential Easter travel disruptions today, with two warnings and 96 alerts active across England.
Motorists are advised to delay their journeys until later this evening, as the heaviest rainfall is expected to affect the region from southwest England to East Anglia, creating challenging driving conditions, as reported by Sky News.
Forecasters have highlighted the risk of hail and thunder later in the day.
Anticipating the Easter break, the RAC cautioned that it could result in ‘carmageddon,’ predicting heavy traffic and extensive queues along popular routes.
According to the RAC and transport analysis firm Inrix, 2.01 million leisure trips are projected to be undertaken by car on Easter Monday, with the most significant delays anticipated between 10 am and noon.
Motorists are reminded to reduce their speeds due to reduced visibility caused by rain and allow for increased braking distance on slippery roads, recommending a minimum gap of four seconds between vehicles.
The showers expected could bring rainfall ranging from 5mm to 15mm, according to forecasters.
Meanwhile, travelers in Portugal have reported enduring three-hour delays at Faro International Airport, attributing the delays to e-Gates malfunctions and a lack of communication from airlines.
Passengers described the scene at the airport as chaotic, with distressed children and some travelers fainting while waiting in vain to depart for or return to Britain.
According to local reports, a Portuguese police source attributed the disruptions at Faro airport to a surge in passenger arrivals, noting that the situation is gradually stabilizing.
The travel disruptions coincide with staycationers in the UK facing extended waits on congested motorways.
The turmoil in Portugal unfolds as holidaymakers seeking to maximize the Easter weekend find themselves ensnared in ‘horrendous’ 20-mile queues on major UK motorways.
Routes to Devon and Cornwall are congested with staycationers, while travelers also encounter substantial delays at the Port of Dover in Kent.
Additionally, there are reports of ‘significant’ congestion around the M25 and road networks in the South West and South East of England.