Bad Weather Set to Disrupt UK New Year Celebrations

AFP/APP

London: Adverse weather conditions are set to impact New Year celebrations across the UK, with several major events already cancelled or under threat.

In Edinburgh, the organisers of the city’s famous Hogmanay street party have called off the event for public safety reasons.

The festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors, was due to feature a fireworks display and a concert headlined by the Scottish band Texas. However, ongoing high winds and inclement weather led to the cancellation of outdoor events scheduled for both Monday and New Year’s Eve.

Similarly, the planned New Year fireworks in Blackpool, a popular holiday destination in northwestern England, were also cancelled due to forecasts of strong winds, according to local authorities.

In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued a rare severe flood warning, citing a “danger to life” for parts of the country.

The warning includes areas around Aviemore in the northern Highlands, where heavy rainfall is expected to cause riverbanks to burst, particularly along the River Spey. Significant flooding of properties and businesses is anticipated in the region.

The UK Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, with some areas also expected to experience snow. The weather agency predicts disruptive conditions over the next few days, as a series of low-pressure systems move across the country.

The Met Office has placed an amber warning for rain and snow in Scotland, the second most severe weather alert, meaning there is a potential risk to life. Additionally, yellow warnings for rain, wind, and snow remain in effect for parts of Scotland and northern England.

With nearly the entire UK under some form of weather warning, the New Year’s festivities are likely to be disrupted by dangerous conditions across the country.