New Year’s Eve latest: World prepares to welcome 2025 – as London event organisers monitor weather after Edinburgh cancellations
Key points
- Organisers of New Year events keeping close eye on conditions as yellow weather warnings issued for rain and snowStreet party, concert and fireworks cancelled in EdinburghAll the weather warnings in place todayWhat time does 2025 arrive around the world? Live reporting by Jess Sharp
09:05:26 Get ready for the year of the snake…
Much of Asia is getting ready for the year of the snake today.
Parts of Japan have shut down ahead of the nation’s biggest holiday, as temples and homes undergo a thorough cleaning ready for the new year.
The upcoming year of the snake in the Asian zodiac is heralded as one of rebirth – alluding to the reptile’s shedding skin.
Stores in Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle from1 January have been selling tiny figures of smiling snakes and snake-themed products ahead of the big day.
Other places in Asia will start marking the year of the snake later with the Lunar New Year.
08:40:39 London ‘monitoring weather’ ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations
Organisers in London are “monitoring the weather closely” ahead of tonight’s celebrations.
A number of other New Year’s Eve events have been cancelled today due to strong winds and heavy rain.
It is understood that there are currently no plans to cancel any celebrations in London.
08:32:05 More than 30 flood warnings in place
The risk of flooding in Highlands communities has been downgraded after less rain fell overnight than expected.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) issued an alert for “severe” flooding just after 6am, telling residents in the Aviemore and Dalfaber areas to “act now”.
However, this was downgraded by 7.45am with no “severe” flood warnings in place.
A total of 31 flood warnings are currently in place, along with 10 flood alerts.
Flood warnings mean that flooding is imminent and immediate action is required.
The Met Office amber weather warning predicts rain on New Year’s Eve in the Highlands, with a yellow weather warning for snow covering Glasgow and another yellow warning for snow covering Orkney.
07:54:11 Train services disrupted due to ‘very heavy rainfall’ and strikes
Train operator ScotRail has warned its services are being disrupted by speed restrictions due to “very heavy rainfall”.
The routes affected are between:
- Inverness and PerthInverness and Kyle of LochalshInverness and WickPerth and StirlingEdinburgh and InvernessGlasgow Queen Street, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and PerthGlasgow Queen Street, Oban and Mallaig
Network Rail said it has closed the Highland Main Line at Kingussie because of “more extreme rainfall overnight”.
It also closed the line north of Inverness, between Muir of Ord and Dingwall.
Elsewhere in the UK, passengers have been warned of disruption due to the start of a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Avanti West Coast.
Fewer services will run during limited operating hours today and Thursday, with trains that are running expected to be busy.
Avanti said it will run one train an hour between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, and Preston, with a limited service to Glasgow.
One train every other hour between Liverpool and Crewe will also run.
On Thursday, it will run one train an hour between Euston and each of Wolverhampton (via Birmingham), Crewe and Manchester. There will also be a limited service between Glasgow and Preston.
These trains will operate during limited hours on both dates – with the first train of the day leaving Euston around 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.
The greatly reduced timetables will mean North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh have no Avanti West Coast services on strike days.
07:47:12 Fireworks display cancelled in Blackpool
A planned fireworks display in Blackpool has been cancelled because of expected high winds, organisers have said.
The rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party will still go ahead in the Lancashire seaside resort, they added.
“The rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party will continue as planned, with plenty of fun activities for all the family, including the LeylandHosen Bierkeller Band, who will be performing during the afternoon,” a statement on X read.
“There will also be children’s rides, themed food and drink cabins, and a free skating rink as part of the festive village.”
A projection show on the Blackpool tower will still go ahead as planned at 6pm.
07:33:28 Street party, outdoor concert and fireworks cancelled in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the latest victim of the bad weather set to batter the UK, with organisers cancelling events due to public safety concerns.
Outdoor celebrations, including a street party and a midnight fireworks display at Edinburgh Castle, will no longer take place due to high winds and “extreme” weather.
Organisers apologised to tourists who travelled internationally for the events, which also included a concert headlined by Scottish band Texas.
They said it was not safe to carry out preparations outdoors in such bad weather.
However, indoor events, including a sold-out concert by Idlewild, and a service at St Giles Cathedral will still go ahead.
07:29:04 All this week’s weather warnings
Almost every part of the country is covered by at least one of the multiple Met Office weather warnings over the next few days.
A yellow weather warning of heavy rain and snow is currently in force across most of Scotland, while an amber warning for rain is in place for an area around Inverness.
Stormy conditions are expected to spread to the rest of the UK too, with yellow warnings for wind and rain in place for parts of England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The Met Office has warned that delays to all types of transport are “likely” as strong winds persist, with a chance they reach speeds of up to 70mph in England and Northern Ireland.
A yellow warning for rain and snow is in place across Scotland until midnight tomorrow, while an amber warning for rain is in force for Moray and Highland first thing until 5pm.
The new year will be off to a turbulent start, with separate weather warnings in place for wind and rain tomorrow.
Winds of up to 60mph are forecast across much of England and Wales all day on Wednesday, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills.
A yellow warning for snow and ice also covers part of Scotland until 9am on Thursday morning.
07:19:28 What time does 2025 arrive around the world?
Whether it’s fireworks displays, light shows or a big ball drop, as 2024 comes to an end, celebrations will begin to erupt around the world.
Using UK time, here is a brief overview of when countries will ring in the new year.
10am: Pacific islands, including Samoa and Kiribati Island
11am: New Zealand
1pm: Australia
3pm: North Korea, South Korea, Japan
4pm: Taiwan, Hong Kong, China
5pm: Thailand
6.30pm: India
8pm: United Arab Emirates (UAE)
9pm: Russia
10pm: South Africa
11pm: Germany
1 January
3am: Brazil
5am: New York
8am: Los Angeles
07:19:25 Good morning
Welcome to our live coverage as countries around the world prepare to kick off New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Among the first places to ring in 2025 will be Kiritimati on Kiribati Island in the central Pacific Ocean at 10am UK time.
Organisers of New Year events in London and other towns and cities say they’re keeping a close eye on weather conditions ahead of celebrations tonight.
Public safety concerns caused by extreme weather have already led to major outdoor gatherings being cancelled in Edinburgh and Blackpool.
So, whether you are saying good riddance to 2024 or celebrating a fantastic year, we’ll be here to guide you through it and give you all the latest updates from around the globe.
Get ready… there are only a few hours left to go (well, for some people at least).