Severe Weather Disrupts New Year Celebrations Across the UK
LONDON (AP) — Heavy rainfall and strong winds wreaked havoc in various regions of the United Kingdom on Wednesday, leading to significant flooding and disruption of New Year festivities.
Flooding Crisis in Manchester
The Manchester area was particularly affected, with numerous neighborhoods experiencing severe flooding. Several residents were forced to evacuate their homes, and vehicles became submerged up to their roofs along roads and in parking lots within a short span, as nearly a month’s worth of rain fell over just two days.
In response to the escalating situation, Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident and mobilized mountain rescue teams alongside firefighters to assist with aid efforts for affected properties and stranded motorists. Meteorologist Tom Morgan from the Met Office warned that additional flooding could occur throughout the day: “We anticipate that conditions may worsen before any improvements.”
The Impact on Local Communities
Tom Coulthard, a geography professor at the University of Hull residing in Didsbury just south of Manchester, recounted how heavy rains began late Tuesday afternoon and continued overnight. This deluge caused rivers to overflow their banks by dawn, necessitating evacuations at local hotels while major roads were shut down.
Cancellations Across Celebratory Events
The extreme weather disrupted planned New Year’s Eve fireworks displays across several cities including Edinburgh; many events scheduled for New Year’s Day—for instance outdoor swims in chilly waters or quirky bathtub boat races—were also canceled.
In contrast, London successfully executed its grand fireworks display over the River Thames near Big Ben but still faced delays regarding its traditional New Year’s Day parade due to adverse weather conditions that led inflatable floats being grounded. Cheerleaders along with marching bands employed transparent covers over their vibrant uniforms as they sought refuge from persistent rain showers.
Warnings Issued Nationwide
At one point during this crisis, flood warnings were issued for more than 150 communities throughout the U.K., predominantly affecting northern England. Although many alerts had been lifted later in the day due to easing conditions, some impacts lingered.
Transportation Disruptions Amidst Weather Changes
The inclement weather resulted in several train cancellations caused by rising water around tracks while numerous highways remained closed. As temperatures began to drop further into winter ranges; ice warnings extended until late Thursday morning across Northern Ireland as well as parts of North Wales, England, and Scotland. Additionally anticipated snowfall prompted a three-day warning for much of England and Scotland heading into the weekend ahead.
