31 December 2023 , 19:21
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Brits in southern England have been told festivities have been cancelled tonight due to the prospect of wild winds throwing the fireworks off course.
The Met Office has put a yellow weather warning in place due to 75mph winds barrelling through Plymouth and Devon. Winterwonderland in Plymouth and the town fireworks in Devon have both been axed in anticipation of the gale force winds.
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."
Meanwhile, Barnstable Town Centre Management said that the Devon display cannot go on due to the expected weather. In an announcement, they said: "Unfortunately due to the weather conditions and the gusting winds we will be unable to do the fireworks this evening due to safety. We know this is disappointing, but safety is always the priority and we unfortunately can't control the weather."
Huge swathes of the country are under yellow weather warnings today as the south of the country is expected to see strong winds and torrential downpours. Gales are expected in the south coast, the west and the east and started at around 10am.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
Gale force winds are set to batter the south coastThey're expected to stop as the clock chimes 12 and Brits welcome in the New Year. As well as the southern spots, Blackpool, Blackburn, Bolton and Lancaster will also see some of the wet weather.
But the rain will not call off play for Britain's revellers as 40,000 are expected to flock to bars tonight. An additional 100,000 partygoers are going to descend on central London for the midnight fireworks. Tens of thousands will also flock to Edinburgh's Hogmanay.