Edinburgh’s New Year’s Eve street parties and fireworks display have been cancelled on safety grounds because of storms forecast for the next 36 hours.
The city’s Hogmanay festival organisers said the high winds and rain predicted to hit the city made it unsafe to hold any of the outdoor events planned for Monday and Tuesday nights.
Those include the fireworks display from the castle, a concert in the gardens underneath the castle headlined by Texas and the street party along Princes Street, affecting 50,000 people who were expected to attend. Indoor events including a concert headlined by Idlewild and a candlelit concert at St Giles’ Cathedral will go ahead as planned.
“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,” the organisers said.
Blackpool council in north-west England said it had also taken the “tough decision” to cancel its fireworks display after the Met Office issued a number of weather warnings for most of the country until Wednesday.
Scotland is experiencing “fairly persistent rain” and snow, with a warning in place until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Rainfall of 50-70mm is widely expected, with 100-140mm in some places, with an amber weather warning for parts of the Highlands and Moray.
In all, three yellow weather warnings are in place for rain and snow, and for wind, across the Scottish mainland and islands.
Northern England will be battered by high winds – including gusts of up to 60mph on Monday – with a yellow warning for wind on Tuesday for northern England and Northern Ireland, the forecaster said.
Parts of Wales face a yellow warning for rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, while southern England is under a yellow warning for wind on New Year’s Day. Gusts of up to 60mph are forecast across England and Wales on Wednesday, with 75mph winds likely in coastal and hilly areas.
The Met Office warned transport delays were “likely” on New Year’s Eve as strong winds could reach 70mph in England and Northern Ireland.
London’s firework celebration – the largest annual display in Europe, according to the Greater London Authority, with 100,000 people expected to attend – was going ahead despite the forecast.
A Met Office spokesperson, Oli Claydon, said there could be travel disruption “from strong wind and, in particular, where the wind and rain overlap”. On Monday, trains were running at reduced speeds between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed due to blustery conditions.
In Scotland, ferries and trains had already been disrupted. The Highland Main Line was closed because of high water levels on the Gynack Burn, at Kingussie. Parts of Scotland face an amber warning between midnight and 5pm on New Year’s Eve, indicating the likelihood of property flooding and travel disruption.
“Extremely high water levels are expected in Speyside, the Great Glen and Tayside, resulting in disruptions to transport and to communities,” said Cordelia Menmuir, the duty flood manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. “We’re likely to see extensive river and surface water flooding impacts across these areas.”
Menmuir urged people in affected areas to consider whether their journeys were necessary, and to prepare for flooding.
Stefan Laeger, a flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Heavy and persistent rain means river levels could be high across parts of the Midlands and the north of England on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when significant inland flooding is possible but not expected. Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected.”
Laeger urged people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water “as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car”.
A warning of persistent snow has been issued for Orkney and Shetland between 5am and midnight on New Year’s Eve.
After New Year’s Day, widespread cold and frosty conditions are expected on Thursday night.
Jane Meagher, the leader of Edinburgh council, said there were numerous indoor events still taking place in the city, in an effort to console revellers.
“I know that, like me, many people will be very disappointed. This decision was not taken lightly, however with the ongoing adverse weather condition, public safety must be our number one priority,” she said.
Due to a severe storm warning in the UK, Edinburgh has made the difficult decision to cancel its annual New Year’s Eve street parties and fireworks display. The safety of residents and visitors is of utmost importance, and with high winds and potential hazards forecasted, authorities have decided to err on the side of caution.
While this news may disappoint many who were looking forward to celebrating the arrival of 2022 in the historic city, it is a necessary measure to ensure the well-being of all involved. Alternative plans are being explored to mark the occasion in a safe and controlled manner, and updates will be provided as they become available.
As we bid farewell to another challenging year, let us remember that the health and safety of our communities must always come first. Here’s hoping for a brighter and more peaceful year ahead.
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