Severe Weather Disrupts New Year’s Celebrations Across the UK
LONDON (AP) — Unprecedented rainfall and strong winds wreaked havoc on New Year celebrations in various parts of the United Kingdom on Wednesday, leading to significant flooding in multiple regions.
Flooding Crisis in Manchester and Surrounding Areas
The city of Manchester faced severe flooding, with entire communities affected. Many residents were forced to evacuate as homes were inundated, and vehicles became trapped under water—some submerged completely. This catastrophic weather event saw nearly a month’s worth of rain pour down within just 48 hours.
The Greater Manchester Police responded by declaring a major incident and mobilizing mountain rescue teams to assist firefighters dealing with flooded homes and stranded motorists. “We may see additional flooding develop throughout the day,” warned Tom Morgan, a meteorologist from the Met Office. “The situation has potential to deteriorate further before improvement is seen.”
Impact on Daily Life
Local resident Tom Coulthard described how rain began late Tuesday afternoon, intensifying through the night in Didsbury—a suburb south of Manchester. The relentless downpour overwhelmed riverbanks, prompting early morning evacuation orders for nearby hotels while leading authorities to close several roads and highways.
Cancellations Across Major Cities
The extreme weather conditions not only disrupted local events but also led to significant cancellations across major urban centers like Edinburgh, where fireworks displays were abandoned due to unsafe conditions. Other traditional activities planned for New Year’s Day—such as outdoor swims and quirky bathtub boat races—were similarly thrown into disarray.
London Weather Woes
While London managed to successfully hold its iconic fireworks show along the River Thames near Big Ben, it was unable to proceed with its scheduled New Year’s Day parade fully intact due to adverse weather. Inflatable floats remained grounded amidst stormy skies as participants donned plastic coverings over their costumes for protection against persistent rain showers while parading through central London.
A Broader Weather Warning Across the Nation
Initially, flood alerts impacted more than 150 communities nationwide—the majority concentrated in northern England—with many warnings lifted later in the day as water levels receded slightly.
Train services faced cancellations owing to excessive runoff compromising track safety; numerous highway closures compounded travel difficulties across affected regions.
As temperatures dropped significantly following these rains, ice warnings were issued until Thursday morning across Northern Ireland, parts of North Wales as well as various locales throughout England and Scotland. Additionally, many areas can expect snow warnings heading into next weekend’s forecast.
