Which New Year's Eve celebrations are being cancelled? What we know
The London event is currently going ahead, while there have been cancellations in Edinburgh, Blackpool and Newcastle due to wind and weather warnings.
London’s City Hall has said it is “monitoring the weather” ahead of the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations as the capital faces gusts of 45mph.
It comes as nearly every part of the country is covered by at least one Met Office weather warning between Tuesday and Thursday, with strong winds expected to hit the South East on Wednesday.
It follows the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities due to high winds, and in other parts of the UK, after organisers thought the risk to public safety was too high to carry on as planned.
London
New Year’s Eve celebrations in the capital are yet to be cancelled, although a spokesperson for the mayor confirmed local authorities were continuing “to monitor the weather forecast closely”.
Speaking to the BBC, the head of London's New Year's Eve fireworks display, Darryl Fleming, said he was confident the event will go ahead, despite cancellations elsewhere in the country.
He told the broadcaster his team has altered the angle of the fireworks "slightly into the wind, so we can increase that safety distance".
"From a broadcast point of view nobody is really going to see the difference and everybody will still enjoy the show, but we know we will be delivering it as safely as possible," he added.
Edinburgh
Organisers announced on Monday that outdoor events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations on Monday and Tuesday would be cancelled.
This includes the New Year's Eve street party and concert in Princes Street Gardens – due to be headlined by Scottish band Texas – and the midnight fireworks.
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, 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.”
The spokesperson said indoor events are continuing as planned.
Elsewhere in the UK
A planned fireworks display in Blackpool has been cancelled because of expected high winds.
The rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party would still go ahead in the Lancashire seaside resort, with a projection show on the tower to mark the start of the new year, an update on the Visit Blackpool website said.
Two fireworks displays planned for 6pm and midnight on Newcastle’s Quayside have been cancelled because of the weather.
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.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience, and we wish you all a very safe and happy new year.”
This would have been the first new year fireworks display on the Quayside since 2019.
In the South West, a homemade boat race set to be held in Poole, Dorset, on New Year’s Day has been cancelled because of the expected poor weather.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said in a statement: “Unfortunately the Bathtub Race is now cancelled due to the severity of the swell of the water forecast for New Year’s Day and the incapability of the Rescue Ribs to launch.
“The classic car and vintage vehicle event is still going ahead on Poole Quay from 10am-12.30pm.”
Elsewhere, the Sandown Carnival on the Isle of Wight has also said that it will postpone its fireworks display planned for New Year’s Day because of the “predicted wind speeds” and poor conditions for creating the firework stations on the pier.
The organisers said in a statement: “Combined with high tide and likely rough sea conditions, it would not be safe for them to attempt the build. Of course, safety comes first and we regret having to take this decision.”
The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis has also cancelled its Lyme Lunge sea dip on Wednesday because of forecast winds of 50-60mph and it said in a statement: “I think you will all agree that we must put the safety of Lungers first.”
