Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has been cancelled for “public safety reasons” after it was affected by the bad weather that is expected to hit the UK in the New Year.
UniqueAssembly, the organisers of outdoor events for December 30 and 31, announced that they would no longer be taking place because of high winds and “extreme weather”. This announcement was made hours before events began on Monday.
The organizers apologized to the tourists who traveled internationally to attend Hogmanay, which featured a concert by Texas, a Scottish band, and stated that it was unsafe to prepare outside in this bad weather.
Indoor events will continue, such as a concert by Idlewild and a service at St Giles Cathedral for New Year’s Eve.
‘Difficult decision’
A spokesperson for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay stated: “Due to the ongoing high winds in Edinburgh’s city centre and the inclement weather, we regretfully announce that outdoor events planned for Monday and December 31, are unable go ahead for public safety reasons.
The cancellation of the Night Afore Disco Party in West Princes Street Gardens tonight, as well as the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party on 31 December and the Concert in the Gardens and the midnight fireworks at Edinburgh Castle, is also included.
We have not been able to continue the preparations or necessary setup for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outside events due to the extreme weather conditions and forecast. We, together with our event partners have made the difficult decision, due to safety concerns, to cancel all outdoor activities.
Blackpool’s New Years Eve fireworks has also been cancelled because of the high wind forecast for tomorrow night in Northwest England.
Organisers of London’s celebrations monitor the weather closely.
Weather warnings are in place for almost all parts of the UK. The UK is expected to experience high winds, heavy rainfall, and even snowfall.
Here is what the forecasters predict for the UK in the coming days.
Scotland
Scotland will be covered by five weather warnings over the next four day – including an amber alert that is more severe.
The first alert is for rain and snow and covers most of Scotland. It warns that the weather may cause “significant disruption” in the lead-up to New Year’s.
The warning is valid from Monday until 11.59pm, and warns of the possibility that homes and businesses may be inundated and travel services could be delayed.
Orkney is also covered by a snow alert that runs from New Year’s Eve 5am until midnight.
A yellow alert is in effect for central Scotland between midnight tonight and 5pm tomorrow.
Met Office reports that rain “is likely to cause some flooding of property and travel disruption”.
Another wind alert will also cover southern Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and the surrounding areas, from 7am New Year’s Eve to 11pm.
A yellow alert is in effect for the northern parts of Scotland between midnight on January 1 and 9am on January 2.
England
Four yellow weather warnings are in effect for different parts of England, including a warning on Monday 30th December.
The yellow wind alert is in effect for the North Pennines, and Yorkshire Dales between 11am and 6pm.
The warning warns that there could be short-term power outages and disruption of travel in the region.
A yellow wind warning will be in effect from 7am New Year’s Day. This warning covers the Northeast of England from Bridlington, East Yorkshire to Carlisle, in the Northwest.
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The warning is valid until 11pm and warns that “strong westerly winds” could cause travel disruptions on New Year’s Day.
On New Year’s Day, England issues two warnings.
From 7am until 11.59pm, 1 January, the first category, which is for strong winds, will cover southern England and some parts of West Midlands.
The second category, heavy rain, includes a large area of the Northwest, including areas like Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester, as well as parts of Liverpool and Preston, and up north to High Bentham.
This warning is valid from 6pm New Year’s Eve to 6pm New Year’s Day.