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NOT SO DRY JANUARY
New Year’s Eve fireworks cancelled in two major UK towns as snow, 70mph gales & floods to hit
See Met Office warning maps below
NEW Year's Eve fireworks have been axed in two UK towns with snow, 70mph winds and floods set to hit parts of the country.
Heavy rain is threatening to ruin New Year's celebrations for many after the Met Office today issued an amber weather warning.
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Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations were today cancelled due to "extreme weather".
Blackpool Council also today said it had made the "tough decision" to axe its New Year's Eve fireworks display owing to the winds.
It comes as fears are growing London's fireworks display could be in jeopardy.
The Met Office alert is in place from midnight until 5pm tomorrow, and covers the Scottish Highlands and Grampian.
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It comes as the UK is set to be battered by 70mph winds and up to eight inches of snow over the New Year - after dozens of flights were cancelled.
Almost every part of the country is covered by at least one of the multiple weather warnings that have been issued by the Met Office between today and Thursday.
A spokesman for Unique Assembly, which operates the Hogmanay festival, said: "We have unfortunately been unable to continue with preparations and necessary set-up for Edinburgh's Hogmanay outdoor events due to extreme weather and forecast conditions.
"Therefore, for safety reasons we, along with our event partners, have taken the difficult decision to cancel all outdoor events.
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"We know that this will be hugely disappointing to all hoping to celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh and that people travel from around the world to be here at the Home of Hogmanay."
And a statement from Blackpool Council added: "Due to the forecast of high winds tomorrow evening, we have had to make the tough decision to cancel the fireworks display this year."
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Last night, Gatwick and Edinburgh were among the busiest airports to see flights axed due to the severe fog which has plagued the UK for days.
Restrictions remain in place at Gatwick for a fourth day with more than 20 flights cancelled.
Scotland will be hit first by the turbulent weather, with "pulses of rain" and snow on Monday, meanwhile, northern England will be battered by blustery conditions, including gusts of up to 60mph, according to the forecaster.
A weather warning is in place on Monday where strong winds could impact travellers between 11am and 6pm in areas including Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
In southern England and Wales, highs of 10 to 12C are expected along with a calmer day overall, including "glimmers of sunshine", the weather service said.
On New Year's Eve, delays to all types of transport are "likely" as strong winds persist and may reach speeds of up to 70mph in England and Northern Ireland, the forecaster warned.
Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are expected, perhaps reaching 70 mph in a few exposed areas.
An alert for wind is in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday and covers most of Northern Ireland, including Londonderry, Tyrone, Antrim and Armagh, as well as just north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.
Up to 20cm of snow may blanket areas of higher ground while strong winds have the potential to "exacerbate impacts", creating "blizzard conditions" which could freeze powerlines.
Another warning has been issued for "persistent snow" likely to cause road disruption in Orkney and Shetland from 5am onwards on Tuesday.
Senior Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: "Moving into New Year's Eve, another system moves in from the Atlantic, again, Scotland bearing the brunt of this one with some further heavy rain and snow and strong winds.
"The winds also picking up for Northern Ireland and northern England through New Year's Eve as well, with rain arriving into that part of the world - basically quite an unsettled last day of the year for the northern half of the UK."
"To the south, we will see some rain later on New Year's Eve, but it shouldn't cause too many problems, apart from if you're out celebrating - you might get a bit damp."
He added: "The main bit of advice from the Met Office over the coming days is, with the celebrations and people on the move throughout the new year and Hogmanay period, is the keep checking the forecast and to stay up to date with that."
Those with travel plans should allow extra time for journeys and keep updated with flood alerts and warnings, Mr Snell said.
"With the multiple hazards going on across the UK, I think we can probably expect some travel delays right across the UK," he added.
The A66 in Cumbria has reopened to high-sided vehicles after being closed for several hours due to strong winds while CalMac Ferries said services on the west coast of Scotland were cancelled or at risk of disruption.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said it was monitoring conditions and sailings between Douglas and Heysham were at risk or disruption.
London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks in jeopardy as expert warns revellers could be disappointed
FIREWORK displays for New Year's Eve could be in jeopardy - including in London where 45mph winds are forecast.
Fireworks expert Stephen Miller - whose firm consults on spectacular displays nation-wide - revealed the issues organisers will be facing in the coming hours.
A firework display health and safety consultant for Bromley Council for over 25 years, Mr Miller said there's a chance the more hazardous effects may have to be cut if the weather keeps up.
The Met Office is forecasting snow, torrential rain and severe winds in parts of the UK as the New Year is ushered in.
London could see 45mph wind gusts on Tuesday night - while other areas are facing winds of up to 70mph, the Met Office says.
A spokesperson for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said they "continue to monitor the weather forecast closely".
Former MOD research scientist and bomb disposal engineer Mr Miller told The Sun the most important aspect that determines whether a display can go ahead in full is wind speed.
And it could be wind speed - coupled with rain - that forces the most spectacular fireworks in London's display off.
He said if the wind in London gets "particularly strong" then organisers would have to "cut down on the major effects".
"They’re the ones that are going to be the major hazards,"; he continued.
"They’re the most spectacular but they’re the most dangerous because there’s a bigger bang and projection of fragmentation. If there is a risk you cut out the bigger fireworks."
In terms of whether heavy rain is likely to have an impact, he said: "It would have to be absolutely torrential."
The new year will be off to a turbulent start with separate weather warnings in place for snow, wind and rain on January 1.
Up to 25cm of snow could fall in the worst affected areas, including Central Tayside and Fife, the East Midlands, northern England and the Lothian borders.
Very strong winds of up to 60mph are forecast across the whole of England and Wales all day Wednesday and into Thursday morning, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills, according to the Met Office.
The alert for wind is in place from 9am on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday.
Residents should prepare by checking for loose items outside their homes and planning how to secure them, the Met Office warned.
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Temperatures on New Year's Day are expected to reach between 10 to 12C in southern England with chillier conditions of around 5 to 7C further north.
The remainder of the week will be much colder, with widespread frost across the country predicted on Thursday night, the forecaster added.
UK 5-DAY WEATHER FORECAST
Today:
Remaining wet in Scotland with snow possible in places.
Plenty of cloud elsewhere with patchy light rain in the west but some brighter breaks in the south.
Becoming windier, especially across the Pennines. Mild for most for time of year.
Tonight:
Rain and snow, often heavy, remaining across central and northern Scotland.
Drier further south with some clearer spells but widely windy.
Tuesday:
Heavy rain continues across Scotland, with snow in places. Rain spreads southwards into Northern Ireland and Northern England.
Strong winds with gales to severe gales around coasts and hills.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Further unsettled weather to come, with frequent heavy showers and strong winds into New Year's Day.
Turning colder from Thursday, with blustery, perhaps wintry, showers.
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