31/12/2024
London Monitors Weather as Edinburgh and Blackpool Cancel New Year’s Eve Festivities
London’s City Hall is keeping a close eye on weather conditions ahead of its New Year’s Eve celebrations, while adverse weather has already led to cancellations in Edinburgh and Blackpool.
The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings spanning Monday through Wednesday, covering most parts of the UK. Scotland is experiencing severe conditions, with heavy rain and snow prompting a yellow weather warning for Monday and Tuesday, and an amber warning for rain around Inverness on Tuesday.
As the stormy weather moves south, parts of England, Northern Ireland, and Wales are under yellow warnings for wind and rain on New Year’s Eve. London could face gusts of up to 50mph as thousands prepare to gather by the Thames for the iconic New Year’s fireworks.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festivities Canceled
Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations announced on Monday that all outdoor events planned for December 30 and 31 have been canceled due to high winds. The affected events include the popular street party, a concert featuring Scottish band Texas in Princes Street Gardens, and the midnight fireworks display.
“Due to ongoing high winds and adverse weather conditions in Edinburgh city centre, we regretfully must cancel outdoor events scheduled for Monday and New Year’s Eve in the interest of public safety,” a spokesperson stated.
Indoor events associated with Hogmanay will continue as planned.
Blackpool Fireworks Called Off
On Tuesday morning, organisers in Blackpool confirmed the cancellation of their planned fireworks display due to high winds. However, the New Year’s Eve Family Party will proceed, featuring a projection show on the Blackpool Tower to ring in 2024.
London and the Rest of the UK Brace for Impact
While London’s celebrations are still set to go ahead, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office confirmed that authorities are closely monitoring weather forecasts.
Elsewhere, travel disruptions are expected as strong winds persist. Gusts could reach 70mph across parts of England and Northern Ireland on New Year’s Eve, with delays to all modes of transport “likely,” according to the Met Office.
Scotland and Northern Regions Face Severe Conditions
Scotland remains under a yellow warning for rain and snow until Wednesday night, while an amber warning for rain is active in parts of Moray and the Highlands until Tuesday evening. Severe flooding is expected near Aviemore, where continuous rain has prompted a rare “danger to life” alert from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Road closures and transport disruptions are widespread. The Forth Road Bridge was shut to double-decker buses due to high winds, and snow gates were closed on the A939. CalMac Ferries has canceled several services, and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has also scrapped some sailings.
In northern England, high-sided vehicles have been banned from the A66, which remains closed in both directions. The region is under a yellow wind warning from 7am to 11pm on New Year’s Eve.
Looking Ahead: Turbulent Start to the New Year
The unsettled weather is expected to continue into January 1, with yellow warnings for wind and rain across much of the UK. Gusts of up to 75mph are forecast along coasts and hills in England and Wales.
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell urged travelers to stay informed: “It will be a challenging few days with wet and windy weather into the new year. We encourage everyone to check forecasts and updates from local authorities.”
The new year begins under stormy skies, but authorities are working to ensure public safety amid the turbulent weather.
