Warning for New Year’s Eve revellers as yellow weather alerts issued
New Year’s Eve revellers should brace for gale-force winds and heavy showers this evening after severe weather warnings were issued for swathes of England and Wales.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather alerts, warning that severe gales bringing heavy showers could lead to further disruption to transport[1] in the UK.
In Scotland, Edinburgh will be cloudy but is expected to remain dry on Sunday evening for Hogmanay.
A yellow weather[2] warning for high winds and showers is in place for much of the south and south-west of England and Wales – including Brighton, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Bath and Cardiff – until midnight.
Winds are likely to reach speeds of 50-55mph across wide areas, with the potential for the 65-75mph mark to be hit around coastal regions and exposed hills.
The gale-force winds will also drive rainy weather that may lead to hail and thunder, and showers will persist across the country at intervals throughout the day with intermittent dry sunny spells possible.
The Met Office added: “Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.”
A second weather warning is in place in north-west England from 6pm on Sunday until 6am on Monday.
The yellow alert is warning of “frequent heavy showers”, with Manchester, Burnley and Blackpool forecast to be hit by frequent showers that “may lead to some flooding and disruption to travel.”
Borders and central regions will experience primarily dry conditions on Sunday, with brighter morning spells. Winds are expected to ease, becoming light and variable.
The Environment Agency has also issued more than 200 flood warnings and alerts across the UK after the River Ouse burst its banks yesterday.
The meteorologist Craig Snell told the PA news agency: “A blustery day especially across the south and the very far northeast of the UK, and with the winds coming in from the north-west a cooler feeling day compared to Saturday but still just reaching double figures in the south.
“Then into the evening as we begin to approach midnight for many parts, Northern Ireland, England and Wales, we continue to see some further showers, so certainly recommend a rain jacket if you are planning to be about around midnight.
“For Scotland, it should turn a little bit drier here and with some lighter winds, it will turn quite chilly too, so maybe a thicker jacket here as we approach midnight.
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“Then for the rest of the night very little changes really, still the risk of some further showers, showers may well return across parts of Scotland too as we start the New Year’s Day morning.”
Jim Dale of the British Weather Services told i: “I encourage anyone travelling on New Year’s Eve[3] to do so sooner rather than later on Sunday as these winds will be ferocious.”
The south of the country can expect drier conditions on New Year’s Day, with some isolated showers.
Flooding in a tunnel under the Thames led to thousands being stranded at St Pancras station yesterday, but Eurostar trains have now resumed.[4]
Southeastern Railway’s highspeed service from St Pancras has re-started after it predicted further delays and disruption today across its service.
Managing director Steve White said: “Excellent news. Our full high-speed service will be reinstated on HS1 shortly. Both tunnels are now open at line speed.”
Due to staff shortages, Thameslink trains will also be running an altered service today, with “major disruption” forecast by the provider and no trains running overnight.
References
- ^ disruption to transport (inews.co.uk)
- ^ weather (inews.co.uk)
- ^ anyone travelling on New Year’s Eve (inews.co.uk)
- ^ Eurostar trains have now resumed. (inews.co.uk)