Millions of revellers fear a New Year’s Eve washout as heavy rain, eight inches of snow, and 70 mph gales look set to wreak havoc for fireworks displays across the United Kingdom.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations have already been cancelled as warnings are issued for snow, rain and heavy winds in nearly every part of the country.
Do not travel warnings have been issued with rivers feared to burst their banks in other areas of Scotland before storms sweep southward over New Year’s Eve.
Three days of warnings are in place with heavy rain turning to blusters of snow showers on Wednesday which will continue through the night in Scotland.
Blackpool Council was forced to make the “tough decision” to cancel its New Year’s fireworks due to high winds.
London’s City Hall has said it is “closely monitoring” the weather with thousands expected to flock to Big Ben for the capital’s fireworks display despite the 41mph gusts expected.
Key Points
- Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations cancelled due to ‘extreme weather'
- Blackpool New Years Eve fireworks cancelled due to ‘high winds’
- Heavy rain closes rail lines across Scotland
- Newcastle NYE fireworks latest to be cancelled due to gale force winds
London NYE fireworks supremo insists show will go on
10:30
Barney Davis
Darryl Fleming - the man organising London’s New Year’s Eve spectacular has been monitoring the weather for the past seven days so he can deliver the event “as safely as possible”.
“The big enemy is the wind, so we have to plan for that in the design stage,” he told the BBC.
“The wind direction is in the right direction, and if we need to curtail parts of the show, we can do that, we have all those plans in place,” he adds.
“We don’t have massive big shells that have a high chance of being taken out of a show.
“From a broadcast point of view nobody is really going to see the difference and everybody will still enjoy the show.”
Newcastle NYE fireworks latest to be cancelled due to gale force winds
10:15
Barney Davis
Two fireworks displays planned for 6pm and midnight on Newcastle’s Quayside have been cancelled because of the weather.
Winds that could approach 70mph have put paid to plans for the Northern powerhouse’s first new year fireworks display since 2019.
Newcastle City Council said: “Safety always comes first, and the forecast has made it clear that continuing would pose risks to those attending, as well as our event teams working on-site.
“Newcastle’s Quayside is a special place to mark New Year’s Eve, and we understand how disappointing this news will be for both residents and visitors, including those who’ve travelled to our city.
“We’re incredibly proud of the community spirit Newcastle always shows, and we hope everyone can still find ways to safely welcome 2025 with family and friends.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience, and we wish you all a very safe and happy new year.”
Yorkshire town cancels firework show
10:12
Barney Davis
A New Year’s Eve fireworks event in Ripon, North Yorkshire, has been cancelled because of the weather.
Gusts could reach 70 mph in a few exposed areas across North Yorkshire, the Met Office warned.
On its Facebook page, Ripon City Council said: “Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel our New Year’s Event on the Market Square due to the high winds forecast and yellow weather warning.
“We wish you a very happy and safe New Year.”
Huge waves lead to ‘stay away from beach’ warnings
09:54
Barney Davis
High tides and strong winds were expected to cause large waves and spray in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, later on Tuesday.
Flood warnings were issued, where flooding was “expected”, for Sandside and Foreshore Road around late afternoon and early evening.
The warning urged people to stay away “from beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads in Scarborough as large waves and sea spray could be dangerous”.
The situation was expected to ease once the high tide has passed and the weather settles.
Gale force winds cancel wacky charity Bathtub race
09:30
Barney Davis
Poole Quay’s iconic Bathtub Race is one of the latest events to be cancelled due to heavy swells and gale force winds expected over New Year’s Eve.
The wacky race, which has run for 40 years, usually sees dozens in fancy dress and imaginative boat designs paddle to raise money for charity.
But a spokesperson for the event said: “It is with a broken heart that I have to report after the latest set of weather forecasts for New Year’s Day and along with advice from the Poole Quay Harbour Master it has been decreed unsafe for not only the Bathtub Race but the classic car and vintage vehicle event due to heavy rain and gale force winds.”
Mayor promotes ‘exciting’ New Year’s Eve fireworks display amid cancellation fears
09:20
Barney Davis
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan appears to say the fireworks display will go ahead as he urges people to watch along from home promising “an exciting new element”.
There were fears the event would be cancelled with thousands expected to flock to Big Ben despite 41mph winds.
But Mr Khan, posted on X: “Tickets for the New Year’s Eve fireworks are sold out.
“Watch the magic live from home. Anyone tuning into BBC One will be able to see an exciting new element of the fireworks show.”
London weather being ‘monitored closely’ after NYE cancellations in Edinburgh and Blackpool
09:00
Barney Davis
There are currently no plans to cancel any New Year’s Eve events in London, but a spokesperson for the mayor confirmed local authorities were continuing “to monitor the weather forecast closely”.
The clock is ticking as thousands are expected to flock to Big Ben with only a few tickets left on the Ticketmaster resale.
Gusts of wind are expected to reach up to 41mph in the runup to midnight in the capital.
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 Met Office has warned.
Latest Met Office radar images show winds battering Northern Ireland and Scotland
08:46
Barney Davis
Take care if you are travelling this morning across Northern Ireland and Scotland, with heavy rain and strong winds around ☔
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 31, 2024
Here is the latest radar, stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/JKXvxXHwJU
A66 closed to ‘vulnerable vehicles’
08:29
Barney Davis
The A66 is closed to “high sided and vulnerable vehicles” because of strong winds, National Highways says.
The closure affects the section between the M6 in Penrith, Cumbria and the A1M Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire.
Motorists are advised to plan ahead and “consider alternate routes such as the A69”.
Heavy rain closes rail lines across Scotland
08:17
Barney Davis
Train operator ScotRail said its services are being disrupted by speed restrictions on many routes because of “very heavy rainfall”.
The routes affected are between: Inverness and Perth; Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh; Inverness and Wick; Perth and Stirling; Edinburgh and Inverness; Glasgow Queen Street, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth; and Glasgow Queen Street, Oban and Mallaig.
Network Rail said it has closed the Highland Main Line at Kingussie because of “more extreme rainfall overnight”.
It also closed the line north of Inverness, between Muir of Ord and Dingwall.
31 flood warnings in place across Scottish Highlands
08:03
Barney Davis
Due to further heavy rain throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, river levels are rising as Scotland puts 31 areas under flood warnings.
River levels are expected to rise into Tuesday, particularly in the areas of Speyside, the Great Glen, and Tayside, where impacts are most likely to occur.
Three severe warnings have been downgraded as of Tuesday morning.
Where snow could hit UK on New Year’s Day as temperatures drop to -2C
08:00
Barney Davis
Britons are bracing for snowfall and a sharp drop in temperatures, which are set to fall to -2C on New Year’s Eve in some places.
Blackpool NYE fireworks cancelled
07:44
Barney Davis
A planned fireworks display in Blackpool has been cancelled because of expected high winds, organisers said.
An update on the Visit Blackpool website said: “Due to the forecast of high winds tomorrow evening, we have had to make the tough decision to cancel the fireworks display this year.
“The rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party will continue as planned, with plenty of fun activities for all the family, including the LeylandHosen Bierkeller Band, who will be performing during the afternoon.
“There will also be children’s rides, themed food and drink cabins, and a free skating rink as part of the festive village. The New Year’s Eve projection show will still go ahead as planned at 6pm.”
At midnight, the projection show that will feature in the family party will be shown on The Blackpool Tower to mark the start of 2025.
2024 ends with travel chaos on trains, planes and ferries amid bad weather
07:00
Tara Cobham
After hundreds of flights were cancelled to, from and within the UK because of fog over the weekend, bad weather is threatening New Year travel plans for millions of passengers. Large scale rail engineering projects will keep some lines closed, and train strikes resume on New Year’s Eve – halting most intercity trains on the West Coast main line.
Almost 500 flights were cancelled over the past three days due to thick fog. London Gatwick airport alone saw almost 300 arrivals and departures grounded between Friday and Sunday, with two dozen more today.
Across at London Heathrow, around 100 flights were cancelled, and London City airport grounded dozens more. There were also many diversions to airports such as Birmingham and Southampton.
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
Weather warnings stetch into new year with snow forecast for parts of UK
06:00
Tara Cobham
Weather warnings also stretch into 2025, with snow forecast for parts of the UK.
The Met Office has issued a yellow alert of snow and ice in the north of mainland Scotland between the start of 1 January until 9am on 2 January.
Met Office predicts ‘wet and windy’ weather going into 2025
05:00
Tara Cobham
The Met Office has predicted the weather will be “wet and windy” as we go into the new year.
The forecaster said it is then set to turn drier but colder by the end of the week.
It's going to be wet and windy as we go into 2025, turning drier but colder in the new year for the end of the week.
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 30, 2024
Find out what this week's weather has in store for us in our Week Ahead forecast with Alex pic.twitter.com/M2O6Vs0yHK
Swinney issues safety warning over weather
04:00
Tara Cobham
Scottish Government officials will continue to monitor the situation and work with frontline agencies to mitigate the impact of the weather.
In a post on social media, First Minister John Swinney warned: “Please follow all advice and stay safe.”
This is a significant update of the weather warning for the Grampian area to Amber level. Please follow all advice and stay safe. https://t.co/0Dxq0xwUaU
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) December 30, 2024
SGORR activated and travellers advised to plan ahead
03:00
Tara Cobham
The Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGORR) has been activated in response to the weather warnings and authorities have advised people to plan ahead if travelling over the New Year period.
Douglas Cairns, Traffic Scotland operator manager at Transport Scotland, said: “The severe weather across much of Scotland this week will, unfortunately, cause some disruption across the transport network.
“Road, rail, air and ferry services are all likely to be affected by the conditions, with localised flooding, longer journey times and cancellations possible, as well as potential restrictions on bridges.
“The network is also expected to be busy as people travel to celebrate New Year with friends and family.
“We are asking travellers to plan their journeys before setting off to ensure they reach their destination and celebrations in good time.
“If you’re driving, make sure your vehicle is winter ready and follow any Police Scotland travel advice that may be in place.
“Traffic Scotland provides up-to-date travel information on the trunk road network through its website, X account and internet radio broadcasts.
“The same advice goes for other modes of transport – if you are planning to travel by rail, air or ferry, stay in contact with your operator for the latest service information.”
Sepa warns north west and central Highlands to prepare for impact of flooding
02:00
Tara Cobham
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is warning communities in the north west and central Highlands to prepare for the impact of flooding in the run-up to Hogmanay.
Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, said: “Some very high river levels are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, in particular the Spey and other rivers in the Great Glen and Easter Ross area.
“Levels on the River Tay and other rivers across the Central Highlands will also be high.
“We’re likely to see river and surface water flooding impacts across these areas, resulting in disruptions to transport and to communities.
“Flooding of property, infrastructure, roads and the rail network are all possible. We urge everyone to be prepared and be aware.
“If you live or work in the affected areas, or are planning to visit, think about any steps you need to take now to be prepared for flooding impacts – and consider whether your journey is necessary.”
Full details of weather warnings in place for Scotland after Hogmanay celebrations cancelled
01:00
Tara Cobham
A weather warning of heavy rain has been upgraded to amber for part of northern Scotland on Hogmanay, as the street party and fireworks at Edinburgh’s New Year’s Eve celebrations were cancelled.
The Met Office alert, which warns that flooding and travel disruption is likely, is in force from midnight until 5pm on Tuesday in Moray and the Highlands.
A yellow weather warning of heavy rain and snow is currently in force across most of Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, covering central Scotland, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, the Highlands and Western Isles, Edinburgh, West Lothian and Strathclyde including most of Argyll and Bute.
Forecasters predict that heavy rain will become persistent and widespread in Scotland over the two days, with 50-70mm of rain possible in many areas while some places may see 100-140mm.
They warned flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and travel disruption, while fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life.
A separate warning of “persistent snow” has been issued for Orkney and Shetland between 5am and midnight on Hogmanay.
Meanwhile, a yellow warning of wind will be in force for the area south of Lochgilphead in the west and Dundee in the east between 7am and 11pm on December 31, stretching down into north-east England.
The Met Office said that gusts of 50-60 mph are expected, perhaps reaching 70 mph in a few exposed areas.
Weather warnings also stretch into 2025 with a yellow alert of snow and ice in the north of mainland Scotland between the start of 1 January until 9am on 2 January.
Full statement released by organisers on cancellation of Hogmanay outdoor events
00:00
Tara Cobham
In a statement issued on Monday, a spokesperson for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay said: “Due to ongoing high winds and inclement weather in Edinburgh city centre, we regret to announce that outdoor events scheduled for Monday and December 31 are unable to go ahead on the grounds of public safety.
“The cancellation includes tonight’s Night Afore Disco Party in West Princes Street Gardens, and on December 31, the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, Concert in the Gardens, and the midnight fireworks from Edinburgh Castle.
“We have 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.
“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. Customer Service from point of purchase will be in touch with ticket-holders directly with further instructions regarding refunds in due course.
“All indoor events are taking place as planned, including Monday’s performance of Swamplesque at Assembly Hall, the sold-out Idlewild concert at the Assembly Rooms, and on the December 31, the Bairns New Year Revels and New Year Revels at the Assembly Rooms, and sold-out Candlelit Concert at St Giles’ Cathedral.
“We also continue to look forward to the packed First Footin’ and Sprogmanay programme of events on New Year’s Day – a series of free and ticketed indoor music gigs across the city centre, Leith and Portobello.”
Full story: Ferries and trains disrupted as snow, wind and rain warnings in force
Monday 30 December 2024 23:00
Tara Cobham
Ferries and trains have been disrupted as snow, rain and wind warnings are in force and are expected to cause further travel issues on New Year’s Eve.
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 Monday and Wednesday.
Scotland is being hit first by “fairly persistent rain” and snow, with 50-70mm of rainfall expected widely, 100-140mm in some locations, and up to 20cm of snow in places, with a warning in place until midnight on New Year’s Eve, the forecaster said.
Read the full story here:
Mapped: All weather warnings issued by Met Office for New Year’s Eve
Monday 30 December 2024 22:00
Tara Cobham
Full story: Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations cancelled over ‘extreme weather’
Monday 30 December 2024 21:00
Tara Cobham
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations have been cancelled because of “extreme weather”.
Outdoor events planned for the city’s new year celebrations on Monday and Tuesday, including the street party and fireworks display, have had to be scrapped, organisers announced on Monday afternoon.
The “difficult” decision follows Met Office yellow weather warnings for most of Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, and an amber warning for northern Scotland.
Read the full story here:
Severe flood warnings as heavy rain brings ‘danger to life’ in northern Scotland
Monday 30 December 2024 20:05
Tara Cobham
A rare severe flood warning of “danger to life” has been issued for part of northern Scotland on Hogmanay, as a heavy downpour of rain is expected to burst riverbanks.
Aviemore and nearby areas in the Highlands are bracing for extensive river flooding on Tuesday morning after a night of continuous rain.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is warning communities in the north west and central Highlands to prepare for the impact of flooding in the run-up to Hogmanay.
A yellow weather warning of heavy rain and snow is currently in force across most of Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, while an amber warning for rain is in place for an area around Inverness on Tuesday.
On Monday evening, Sepa warned people around Aviemore should act immediately, saying: “There is a danger to life. If you are in an affected area and are in danger and need assistance, call emergency responders.
“Due to persistent and heavy rainfall, river levels on the River Spey will rise throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning causing serious flooding.
“Extensive flooding to properties and businesses is expected in and around Aviemore.”
Watch: Foggy weather continues to disrupt flights in UK
Monday 30 December 2024 20:00
Tara Cobham
‘Complicated’ in coming days forecast for the UK
Monday 30 December 2024 19:00
Alex Croft
Andy Page, a chief forecaster with the Met Office, says the forecast for the UK in the coming days is “very complicated”.
“There is a very complicated weather forecast for the UK with snow, strong winds and heavy rain all feature for parts of the UK. Almost the entire UK is covered by at least one weather warning during the coming week,” he said.
“With such a varied and complex weather situation there is potential for the pattern of warnings to shift and possibly escalate in some areas. With lots of celebrations and people on the move over the coming days, we are urging everyone to keep checking the forecast so they can update their plans.”
Monday night’s weather warnings
Monday 30 December 2024 18:46
Alex Croft
There are two weather warnings in place for Monday night.
A yellow wind warning for wind covers a patch of central northern England. “Westerly winds will be strong and gust at times. Gusts of 50-60mph are possible over high ground,” the Met Office says.
A yellow rain and snow warning covering most of Scotland will be in place until 23:59 on Tuesday, which is expected to bring “bring significant disruption in the build up to New Year”.
Second time Blackpool fireworks cancelled in three years
Monday 30 December 2024 18:31
Alex Croft
The cancellation of Blackpool’s fireworks display to celebrate New Years Eve is the second time since 2021 the festivites have been called off.
Three years ago, the fireworks were cancelled due to the risks of blustery winds.
A spokesperson for VisitBlackpool told the BBC:
“Unfortunately, as the fireworks were being fired from the beach, it isn’t possible to move the time of the display to later this evening because of tidal conditions.
“We have therefore taken the decision to cancel now to give people the earliest opportunity to plan their day.”
How will things look at the turn of the year?
Monday 30 December 2024 18:17
Alex Croft
As Auld Lang Syne rings out across the UK at the turn of the year, let’s take a look at where the weather may be suitabe for some festive fireworks.
The first graph shows the type and the amount of rain and snow. The grey areas in the north are where snow is expected - the darker the grey, the more snow forecast.
The second graph shows the expected temperatures, with relatively mild predictions for much of the south and chillier temperatures up north.
Met Office graphic reveals rain and snow forecast for Scotland
Monday 30 December 2024 18:01
Alex Croft
Further rain and snow to affect Scotland this evening ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 30, 2024
Cloudy elsewhere, though fairly mild ☁️ pic.twitter.com/Wx8VJIqq6t
Snow forecast in full
Monday 30 December 2024 17:46
Alex Croft
Snow has been forecast in areas of northern Scotland - but what exactly can residents expect?
Until 23:59 on Tuesday, a yellow rain and snow warning will cover the majority of Scotland, barring southern parts. At 5am on Tuesday morning, a yellow warning for snow will cover the Orkney islands.
The Met says heavy rain will be “persistent and widespread” with totals of 50 to 70mm possible over two days. Some areas in western Scotland may see 100 to 140mm of rain.
North and east of Perthshire will likely see snow, with 10-20cm in areas above 150 metres, according to the forecaster. The Met Office says: “As milder air pushes in, snow will turn back to rain, and any rapid snow melt will contribute to flooding in places.
“Strong winds may exacerbate impacts, particularly across the areas of Scotland affected by snow. Blizzard conditions are possible, especially over high ground and across much of Sutherland and Caithness. Powerline icing is possible where blizzard conditions occur.”
At 12am on Wednesday 1 January, it will be replaced by a yellow snow and ice warning covering the Highlands and northern areas of Scotland. “Rain turning to snow is likely to lead to some travel disruption and difficult driving conditions on New Years Day,” the Met Office says.
The snow and ice warning will remain in place until 9am on Thursday.
ICYMI: Amber rain warning issued in Scottish Highlands
Monday 30 December 2024 17:30
Alex Croft
An amber weather warning for rain has been issued in the Scottish Highlands.
Stretching from Inverness down to Fort William, the warning will be in place from 12am until 5pm on Tuesday 31 December.
The Met Office says: “After a brief lull during Monday afternoon, another period of heavy rain is expected to develop during Monday night and persist through Tuesday morning before turning to showers on Tuesday afternoon, giving another 50-70mm on top of what has already fallen.
“This is likely to lead to significant travel disruption and may result in some flooding of properties.
“Yellow rain and snow warnings will continue to be in force after the expiry of this warning.”
Fast flowing floodwater, power cuts and travel disruption are “likely” the forecaster says.
New Year’s Eve weather: How your region will be affected as Met Office issues nationwide warnings
Monday 30 December 2024 17:00
Alex Croft
The UK is set to be hit by snow, rain and heavy winds over the New Year with several weather warnings being issued by the Met Office.
Covering Monday 30 December to Thursday 2 January, the warnings see all parts of the UK affected at some point in the week. The wet and windy weather will begin in Scotland and northern regions before moving downwards overnight on New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day.
Warnings have been issued for heavy rain, winds, snow and ice. Most are yellow warnings, where extra precaution should be taken, but one amber warning has been issued on Tuesday which poses a flood threat.
Albert Toth reports:
London New Year’s Eve fireworks threatened by 41mph winds
Monday 30 December 2024 16:29
Alex Croft
London City Hall is monitoring the weather forecast ahead of Tuesday’s sold-out New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Wind speeds are expected to reach up to 41mph in the hours leading up to midnight, before a yellow weather warning for wind is introduced for the capital at 7am on Wednesday morning.
London lawmakers will continue monitoring the weather to ensure it is safe to go ahead, the BBC reported. It comes after New Year’s festivities in Edinburgh and Blackpool were both cancelled.
Mayor Sadiq Khan also issued a warning to Londoners about the risk of scammers selling fake tickets to the fireworks.
He said on X: “Ticketmaster is the official event partner and the only place to buy resale tickets - beware of ticket scams. If you have tickets for the night, remember to bring ID.”
Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations cancelled
Monday 30 December 2024 15:58
Alex Croft
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations have been cancelled due to “extreme weather”.
A statement issued by organisers said that “high winds and inclement weather” has forced the city to cancel the event for the sake of “public safety”.
The Night Afore Disco Party in West Princes Street Gardens, the Hogmanay Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and the Midnight Fireworks from Edinburgh Castle have all been cancelled.
Organisers were “unable to continue with preparations and necessary set-up” for the celebrations, and therefore took the “difficult decision to cancel all outdoor events”.
All indoor events have not been cancelled.
Flight chaos continues after hundreds of weekend cancellations
Monday 30 December 2024 15:24
Simon Calder | Travel Correspondent
After a weekend in which an estimated 350 flights were cancelled at key London airports, more departures are being grounded ahead of New Year’s Eve because of three days of fog in southeast England.
At London Gatwick, short-notice cancellations continued long into Sunday night, with easyJet in particular grounding dozens of flights as passengers waited in the terminals.
British Airways, Vueling and Wizz Air also left thousands of people stranded on Sunday.
Many of the passengers who made it back to Gatwick were severely delayed, with some easyJet, BA and Tui flights arriving four hours or more behind schedule.
Luton and Stansted report zero cancellations due to fog at their airports
Monday 30 December 2024 14:57
Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
London’s two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, between them experienced hundreds of flight cancellations due to fog between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 December. London City was also hard hit, with proportionately more cancellations and diversions than any other airport.
But Stansted and Luton, both busy single-runway airports, report no cancellations due to fog at in their areas.
StanstedOn Saturday, a total of 12 flights were cancelled to and from the Essex airport. Two were due to a crew hours issue. Two happened because of bad weather in Chambery in the French Alps. Three were made in order not to infringe the curfew at Amsterdam airport. One cancellation was triggered by an earlier divert.
The highest number, four, was due to Krakow airport being effectively closed for the whole weekend because of thick fog.
LutonOf four weekend cancellations at the Bedfordshire airport, two were caused by bad weather at Krakow. Another was grounded due to the airport curfew at Lyon, and a Belfast flight was cancelled due to the crew going out of hours.
ICYMI: Cancellations continue at Gatwick
Monday 30 December 2024 14:31
Alex Croft
After three days of fog led to the cancellation of around 200 flights to and from London Gatwick, more departures and arrivals have been grounded at the Sussex airport.
Planes and pilots are out of position, with flight time limitations also coming into play.
So far 27 more flights have been grounded at Gatwick, affecting up to 5,000 passengers. The biggest airline at the Sussex airport, easyJet, has grounded 17 flights. Inbound services from Aberdeen, Inverness and Belfast City were axed.
Departures on easyJet to Nice, Venice, Murcia, Milan, Naples, Innsbruck and Rennes have also been cancelled.
Passengers were told: “We were affected by a three-day disruption caused by low-visibility weather conditions in London Gatwick.
“This has meant that air traffic control has had to limit the number of aircraft that can arrive and depart, which has sadly led to delays and cancellations today. The safety of you and our crew is our highest priority, and we thank you for your understanding.”
British Airways has grounded flights from Gatwick to Algiers, Jersey (two services), Seville and Verona.
Weather warnings for December 30-31
Monday 30 December 2024 14:11
Alex Croft
‘Complicated’ in coming days forecast for the UK
Monday 30 December 2024 13:50
Alex Croft
Andy Page, a chief forecaster with the Met Office, says the forecast for the UK in the coming days is “very complicated”.
“There is a very complicated weather forecast for the UK with snow, strong winds and heavy rain all feature for parts of the UK. Almost the entire UK is covered by at least one weather warning during the coming week,” he said.
“With such a varied and complex weather situation there is potential for the pattern of warnings to shift and possibly escalate in some areas. With lots of celebrations and people on the move over the coming days, we are urging everyone to keep checking the forecast so they can update their plans.”
Second time Blackpool fireworks cancelled in three years
Monday 30 December 2024 13:26
Alex Croft
The cancellation of Blackpool’s fireworks display to celebrate New Years Eve is the second time since 2021 the festivites have been called off.
Three years ago, the fireworks were cancelled due to the risks of blustery winds.
A spokesperson for VisitBlackpool told the BBC:
"Unfortunately, as the fireworks were being fired from the beach, it isn't possible to move the time of the display to later this evening because of tidal conditions.
"We have therefore taken the decision to cancel now to give people the earliest opportunity to plan their day."
New Years Eve fireworks cancelled in Blackpool
Monday 30 December 2024 13:23
Alex Croft
Blackpool’s New Years Eve fireworks celebrations have been cancelled due to high winds.
The city lies just outside the Met Office’s yellow weather warning for wind on Tuesday evening.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Due to the forecast of high winds tomorrow evening we have had to make the tough decision to cancel the fireworks display this year.
“The rest of the New Year's Eve Family Party will continue as planned.”
Snow forecast in full
Monday 30 December 2024 13:09
Alex Croft
Snow has been forecast in areas of northern Scotland - but what exactly can residents expect?
Until 23:59 on Tuesday, a yellow rain and snow warning will cover the majority of Scotland, barring southern parts. At 5am on Tuesday morning, a yellow warning for snow will cover the Orkney islands.
The Met says heavy rain will be “persistent and widespread” with totals of 50 to 70mm possible over two days. Some areas in western Scotland may see 100 to 140mm of rain.
North and east of Perthshire will likely see snow, with 10-20cm in areas above 150 metres, according to the forecaster. The Met Office says: “As milder air pushes in, snow will turn back to rain, and any rapid snow melt will contribute to flooding in places.
“Strong winds may exacerbate impacts, particularly across the areas of Scotland affected by snow. Blizzard conditions are possible, especially over high ground and across much of Sutherland and Caithness. Powerline icing is possible where blizzard conditions occur.”
At 12am on Wednesday 1 January, it will be replaced by a yellow snow and ice warning covering the Highlands and northern areas of Scotland. “Rain turning to snow is likely to lead to some travel disruption and difficult driving conditions on New Years Day,” the Met Office says.
The snow and ice warning will remain in place until 9am on Thursday.
How will things look at the turn of the year?
Monday 30 December 2024 12:30
Alex Croft
As Auld Lang Syne rings out across the UK at the turn of the year, let’s take a look at where the weather may be suitabe for some festive fireworks.
The first graph shows the type and the amount of rain and snow. The grey areas in the north are where snow is expected - the darker the grey, the more snow forecast.
The second graph shows the expected temperatures, with relatively mild predictions for much of the south and chillier temperatures up north.
Met Office graphic shows snow movement across northern Scotland
Monday 30 December 2024 12:02
Alex Croft
⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 30, 2024
Rain across parts of Scotland
Tuesday 0000 – 1700
Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfS950
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