NEW Year’s Eve plans were foiled in parts of the UK overnight – with fireworks displays canned as a result of the wild winds.
The last-minute decision to call off the festivities in England’s South came as the Met Office put yellow weather warnings in place.
The 75mph gales hitting the south of the county have seen Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland event and a Devon town’s fireworks display axed for New Year’s Eve.
Organisers of the Plymouth event said: “As much as we are very disappointed and frustrated, your safety comes first, as well as ours, and we can’t possibly take the risk.”
In Devon, Barnstaple Town Centre Management said it canned the fireworks display due to the weather.
They said: “Unfortunately due to the weather conditions and the gusting winds we will be unable to do the fireworks (Sunday) evening due to safety.
“We know this is disappointing, but safety is always the priority and we unfortunately can’t control the weather.”
Yellow weather warnings were put in place for parts of the country, with wind sweeping the south of the country and rain expected to bucket down in the south.
The gales were expected to hit the entire southern coast of the country, as well as the west while the gusts sweep east.
Forecasters warned the gales would start blowing around 10am on December 31, until 11.59pm – as Brits welcomed in 2024.
And while the gusts sweep through, rain is expected to be falling at the same time all over the country, too.
It’s looking to be exceptionally wet in Blackpool, Blackburn, Bolton, and all the way up to Lancaster from 6pm until 6am tomorrow.
Two million revellers are expected to fill the country’s 40,000 bars on Sunday evening.
Of that, more than 100,000 people are likely to swarm central London for the midnight fireworks – with tens of thousands flocking to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
But, with the Met Office placing a tornado warning over the southern parts of the UK and Ireland on Saturday, many may opt to stay home.
Asda is said to have sold a bottle of bubbly every second, while selling two-million bottles of spirits.
And it comes as no surprise as the forecasters are now warning the wild winds on Sunday could cause travel chaos, as heavy showers come down with them.
It warned roads, rail, air and ferry transport are likely to be impacted, while coastlines could become dangerous with massive swells.
They’ve also warned high-sided vehicles take care on the roads, while electricity could be cut across the UK.
The wind warning covers from Cardigan in Wales, down to Truro and all the way across to Folkestone – with gusts likely to hit 75mph on the coasts.
Met Office has warned heavy rain will fall north of Manchester, which could see homes flooded and impact travel.
It comes after what appeared to be a mini tornado was snapped in Devon last night – just hours after a watch was put in place.
