New Year Partygoers Advised to Dress Warmly with Wintry Weather Predicted Throughout the UK

Forecasters are saying a chilly start to the new year, with snow anticipated throughout a lot of the UK. Celebrants have been told to dress warmly as sub-zero temperatures are expected for New Year's Eve.

Hogmanay Events Go Ahead Despite Alerts

Edinburgh's renowned Hogmanay events are set to go ahead, following last year's calling-off. This is in spite of advisories for snow across northern Scotland.

"An icy New Year's Eve night for those who are celebrating, so additional clothing will be needed," said the Met Office.

Displays Under Clear but Cold Skies

Elsewhere in the UK, the weather is expected to be ideal for fireworks shows, with no rain and clear skies. The mercury are due to be cold, meaning extra layers essential, according to forecasters.

Further north, conditions will be more overcast, but this is not anticipated to hamper visibility for watching fireworks. "It won't be low cloud, mist or murk, so you should be able to see fireworks, just not stars," commented one forecaster.

Broad Snow Warnings for New Year's Day

Heading into Friday, advisories are in place for Northern Ireland and from Wales, across parts of the north-west, the West Midlands and through to London and most of the south-east of England.

• Travel is expected to be impacted.
• The public have been urged to leave additional time for journeys on the road.
• Hold-ups and call-offs are expected on public transport.

Temperatures Set to Drop Even More

Going into the new year, it will be "cold regardless of where you are," commented forecaster Simon Partridge. Temperatures are set to fall even more as wintry showers and strong winds are expected to affect the north of the country.

Approximately 10cm of snow could accumulate to have accumulated in some areas by Friday morning, reaching up to 30cm on the highest roads and hills.

Health Warnings Activated

In addition, amber-level health advisories have been issued for the north-east and north-west of England. These are due to remain in place until noon on 5 January, with the mercury likely to fall to between 3C and 5C.

The health agency explained this indicated the weather was likely to cause notable consequences across health and social care services. This includes a potential rise in the number of deaths among those with health conditions or those 65 and older.

The advice for all is clear: to celebrate the new year in good health, preparing for winter conditions is absolutely paramount.