Britons hoping for a pleasant New Year’s Day weather forecast have been told to brace for yet more wind, rain, snow and ice after the Met Office issued a new set of warnings.
With fireworks displays across the nation having been called off following days of inclement climes, swathes of England, Wales and Scotland now face a series of weather alerts – with a shaky start to 2025 pencilled in.
As previously reported, much of southern England and practically all of Wales has been slapped with a yellow wind warning – but now, an area of northwest England stretching from Sheffield to Lancaster has now been given an amber rain warning.
The amber alert, in place from now until 9am tomorrow, warns that “heavy rain is likely to lead to disruption including flooding in some locations”.
Britain has been hit with five separate weather warnings
MET OFFICE
The Met Office details how “fast-flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life”, while homes and businesses face “likely” flooding and damage.
There’s also “a good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads” altogether, forecasters say.
Alongside meteorologists, the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments have put out a staggering 198 flood warnings an alerts for January 1.
That figure comprises:
- 109 flood alerts and 12 flood warnings in England;
- 9 flood alerts and 35 flood warnings in Scotland;
- 26 flood alerts and 7 flood warnings in Wales.
Those by the coast should stay alert to the dangers of high winds at the seafront
PA
More broadly, the Met Office forecasts that much of England and Wales is in for an uncertain start to 2025 – which may raise eyebrows for some hoping to take an early run or swim on January 1.
At the same time, Northern Ireland and Scotland will experience colder conditions, with a mix of sunshine and wintry showers, forecasters say.
The Met Office’s Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: “A band of persistent and at times heavy rain will linger across Wales and northwest England through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, before clearing southeast during Wednesday afternoon.
“This rain will be accompanied by strong and gusty winds.”
MORE WEATHER UPDATES FROM GB NEWS:
Much of the UK is in for an uncertain start to 2025 – which may raise eyebrows for some hoping to take an early run or swim on January 1
PA
And further into the New Year, the bureau says: “By Thursday, it is likely that the whole of the UK will experience a change to colder conditions, with this persisting into the weekend.
“Wintry showers are expected to affect the far north and east at times, but away from these, sunshine will be much more widespread than in recent days.
“Overnight temperatures will widely fall below freezing, perhaps reaching minus double digits in areas of Scotland already covered in snow.”