Hogmanay celebrations cancelled as UK-wide weather warnings take hold
Edinburgh's outdoor Hogmanay celebrations have been cancelled as wind, rain and snow are forecast across the UK in the coming days.
Eight separate weather warnings have been issued across the UK in the coming days, as the Met Office warns of "a wet and windy spell for many up into the new year".
Much of the country will be braced for stormy conditions including rain and strong winds - with wind gusts of up to 70mph (112km/h) forecast in some areas.
An amber warning for rain is in force in parts of Scotland, as well as flood alerts and flood warnings - including a rare severe flood warning - across the rest of the nation.
Edinburgh's street party, fireworks display and outdoor concert headlined by Texas were cancelled on public safety grounds after the Met Office's yellow warnings for wind and rain.
Indoor events, including a candlelit concert at St Giles' Cathedral, are scheduled to go ahead as planned.
Unique Assembly, which runs the world-renowned Hogmanay festival on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, said it had taken the "difficult decision" in the interest of public safety.
Al Thomson, festival director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, told the BBC the organisers were "deeply disappointed," adding: "It's not something that we take lightly".
However, Mr Thomson said the weather meant "we're unable to build the infrastructure, the performance stages, and the safety infrastructure" for the event.
Wind gusts on Sunday had already led to the cancellation of the traditional Torchlight Procession, which usually kicks off the Hogmanay events.
Last year, as many as 30,000 people attended Hogmanay festivities in Edinburgh.
American Richard Newton, who travelled from Atlanta in the US with his wife and children to celebrate, said it was "heartbreaking".
"We travelled over 4,000 miles to be here for this," he told BBC Radio Scotland.
"We've been planning for this for five years," he said - saying the family had spent savings and taken on extra jobs to pay for it.
Neil Ellis from the Edinburgh Hotels Association said it was "pretty devastating" for the city and the "many thousands of people" who had travelled there.
But pubs and bars are vowing to "bring the party, if the street party can't," said Louise Maclean from the Scottish Hospitality Group, which represents venues.
She told BBC Radio Scotland "as far as we're concerned the party is still happening" - although urged people to stay safe and not take risks.
In Blackpool, the annual seaside fireworks display to welcome in the new year has also been cancelled because of the winds forecast.
While in London, City Hall said it was monitoring the weather forecast ahead of the capital's sold-out New Year's Eve display.
PA MediaA severe flood warning of "danger to life" has been issued to parts of northern Scotland, by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) - with Aviemore and nearby areas in the Highlands bracing for river flooding on Tuesday morning.
Forecasters expect unsettled conditions more widely across the UK on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day,
That will eventually lead to a cold plunge of air from the north, with temperatures dipping below freezing for many.
Rain is forecast across England, Northern Ireland and also in Wales, where it looks set to be particularly heavy.
While it will be windy everywhere, it could be especially blustery in the south of England as the new year is welcomed in, with wind gusts of 43mph forecast in the run-up to midnight in London.
On New Year's Day, the strongest winds are expected over England and Wales with gusts near 70mph over coasts and hills in the south and west.
The weather warnings in place across the UK include:
- An amber warning for rain is in place for Moray and Highland until 17:00 on Tuesday
- A yellow warning for rain and snow across Scotland for all of Tuesday
- Also on Tuesday, a yellow warning for snow is in place for Orkney and Shetland in Scotland from 05:00 until midnight
- A yellow warning for wind for southern Scotland and northern England from 07:00 until 23:00 on Tuesday
- A separate yellow wind warning covers Northern Ireland from 06:00 until 14:00
- A yellow warning for snow and ice for the north of Scotland from the start of Wednesday until 09:00 on Thursday
- A separate yellow warning for rain covers much of Wales, part of the West Midlands and north-west England from 18:00 on Tuesday and 18:00 on Wednesday
- And also on Wednesday, a yellow warning for wind is in place for southern England from 07:00 until midnight.
The Met Office said there was "potential for the pattern of warnings to shift and possibly escalate in some areas".
The Environment Agency's flood duty manager, Stefan Laeger, said continuous rain meant river levels could be high across parts of the Midlands and the north of England between Tuesday and Thursday "when significant inland flooding is possible but not expected".
Dozens of flood warnings and alerts were in place across Scotland on Monday evening, with two in place in northern England.
EPAForecasters said up to 20cm of snow is expected in some parts of Scotland with heavier falls over hills with blizzards and drifting.
Disruption is expected to continue on Wednesday night. By the morning of Thursday 2 January arctic air may sweep towards the UK as the area of low pressure clears into Europe.
From Thursday into next weekend it will be much colder everywhere with widespread frosts, forecasters said.
Most places will be dry and sunny during the day but wintry showers will affect northern areas and lead to icy conditions.
Those travelling and with plans over the New Year are being urged to check the latest forecasts.
Network Rail said trains on some lines will need to be slowed down due to the difficult weather conditions.
Passengers on Avanti West Coast routes have been warned they will face a "significantly reduced" service on New Year's Eve due to a strike by train managers.
Members of the RMT union will walk out on 31 December until 2 January following a dispute over rest days.
The weather warnings come after thick fog caused disruption to hundreds of flights at some of the UK's major airports over the weekend.
Gatwick Airport reported continued delays on Monday, and flights at Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff were also affected on Friday and Saturday due to poor visibility.