Torrential rain caused travel chaos in Scotland yesterday after a Hogmanay washout as the Met Office issued a snow and ice warning warning of flooding across the UK.
The rail network came to a shocking halt, with tracks and lines flooded and lines blocked by landslides, while roads were closed due to flash flooding.
Heavy rain and high winds, combined with widespread travel disruptions, put a damper on Edinburgh’s flagship Hogmanay street party.
On New Year’s Eve there was a yellow warning for rain in south Wales and south west England.
Revelers on Princes Street for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay New Year celebrations
The Welney wash fills with floodwaters as the levels of the Old Bedford River and River Delph rise after recent rainfall, in Welney, Cambridgeshire
A wet and snowy start today for southern Scotland, while the rest of the UK should be dry with some scattered showers
Forecasters said the deadly bomb cyclone that caused temperatures in the US to plummet over Christmas is causing the UK’s unsettled weather.
Nicola Maxey, from the Met Office, said: ‘The extremely cold weather in the US has boosted the jet stream, bringing with it our wet and windy weather.’
Today will see a wet and snowy start for southern Scotland, while the rest of the UK should be dry with some scattered showers.
Showers are expected this afternoon, especially in Wales and northern England, and winter showers are moving across Scotland.
Monday will see most of the UK dry with occasional clear and possibly sunny spells, particularly in the east.
In the evening, a shower of rain moves towards the UK before clouds.
The Met Office’s Deputy Chief Meteorologist Helen Caughey said: ‘It’s going to be a restless New Year’s weekend for much of the UK. New Year’s Eve will be the wetter of the two days for most, with a number of fronts bringing rain and wind across much of the country.
“The changeable weather will stay with us until the evening.
Crowds queue to enter Princes Street for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay New Year celebrations
Met Office chiefs said to expect further heavy rains and warned of snow and ice in the north of the country
A snow plow clears the A939 after heavy snowfall in the Scottish Highlands
A shopkeeper closes his shop in Whitesands, Dumfries, due to flooding caused by the River Nith flooding
“This will be followed by a more mixed New Year’s Day, with Scotland seeing the bulk of the uncertain conditions, with showers turning to snow over higher ground and continuing to move north.”
Next week will start with a drier and brighter interlude for further ‘showers or longer rains’.
Vincent Fitzsimons, flood service manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: ‘Many people are likely to travel before Hogmanay and are advised to plan their journeys ahead.’
Met Office chiefs said to expect further heavy rains and warned of snow and ice in the north of the country.
Yesterday’s deluge, which triggered 10 flood warnings and 27 flood warnings, caused widespread disruption, including the suspension of rail services between Edinburgh and Dundee, Ayr and Glasgow and the West Coast Main Line at Lockerbie.
Revelers braved wet weather to welcome 2023 after the Met Office issued yellow warnings for rain in the south west and south of England, and warnings for ice and snow in the Scottish Highlands.
Big Ben thumped in England’s capital as a crowd of more than 100,000 gathered along the Thames Embankment in central London to watch 12,000 fireworks shoot through the sky.
The sold-out show was intended to carry a message of ‘love and unity’ as it highlighted the lionesses’ history-defining Euro victory at Wembley, marked 50 years of London’s Pride with a message from Peter Tatchell of the Gay Liberation Front , and sent a statement of support to Ukraine.
The display also paid tribute to the late Queen, with a voice recording of her and words from Dame Judi Dench, before the King was honored, along with a message from Charles about the need to preserve the future of our planet.
Drones gave a positive message during the show, welcoming ‘2023 with love from London’ as fireworks exploded behind them.
Complete with music from Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, the Ukrainian Eurovision winner Kalush Orchestra and hits from Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Cher, Dave, Rihanna and Calvin Harris, the show concluded with the traditional Auld Lang Syne.