Severe Weather Disrupts New Year Celebrations Across the UK
LONDON (AP) — On Wednesday, parts of the United Kingdom experienced significant flooding as relentless rains and strong winds continued to impact New Year’s celebrations. The aftermath saw various communities, particularly near Manchester, grappling with the consequences.
Widespread Flooding Affects Manchester Region
The Manchester area faced intense flooding conditions, forcing numerous evacuations from homes and submerging vehicles beneath floodwaters in both streets and parking lots. This deluge resulted from nearly a month’s worth of rainfall occurring within just 48 hours.
According to Greater Manchester Police, authorities declared a major incident and enlisted mountain rescue teams to aid firefighters as they responded to flooded residences and stranded automobiles.
Meteorological Warnings Forecast More Rain
Tom Morgan, a meteorologist with the Met Office, warned that further flooding was likely throughout the day. “The situation could deteriorate before we see any improvements,” he stated cautiously.
Didsbury resident Tom Coulthard noted that heavy rain began late Tuesday afternoon and persisted through the night. He reported overflowing riverbanks necessitating an evacuation at a local hotel before dawn while multiple roads were shut down due to safety concerns.
“The rivers in our vicinity have reached their capacity, leading to substantial overflow,” explained Coulthard, who also teaches geography at the University of Hull. “This illustrates how our climate is changing significantly.”
Cancellations Undercut Festive Events
This extreme weather not only impacted local residents but also derailed New Year’s Eve festivities across several cities including Edinburgh, where planned firework displays were canceled. Activities set for New Year’s Day—such as crisp outdoor swims and unique bathtub boat races—were also scrapped due to adverse conditions.
London’s Fireworks Display & Parade Postponed
Flood Warnings Affect Hundreds of Communities
The Meteorological Office issued flood warnings for over 150 locales across the UK at one point during these events; most were concentrated in northern territories. However, by later that day many of these alerts had been rescinded as water levels began receding slightly.
The disruptive rains led to widespread train cancellations due to excess water pooling around tracks while several highways found themselves closed off entirely for safety reasons.
Cautious Outlook Ahead: Ice & Snow Alerts Issued
A drop in temperatures prompted ice warnings that extended into late Thursday morning across Northern Ireland along with portions of North Wales, England ,and Scotland. Furthermore, forecasters warned about a potential three-day snowfall expected this weekend affecting large areas throughout England and Scotland.
