Edinburgh's famed Hogmanay celebrations have been canceled due to severe weather conditions, organizers announced Monday. High winds forced the cancellation of all outdoor events, including the highly anticipated street party and fireworks display, scheduled for December 30th and 31st.
The decision to scrap the outdoor festivities was made due to safety concerns, as the city experienced extreme winds which prevented organizers from setting up the event safely. Specifically, the cancellation includes the "Night Afore Disco Party," the street party, the concert in the gardens, and the midnight fireworks.
Despite the cancellation of outdoor festivities, indoor Hogmanay events in Edinburgh will continue as planned. Event organizers are currently reaching out to ticketholders directly, to issue refunds for cancelled shows and events.
This decision was made after severe weather warnings of heavy rain were updated to amber for parts of Northern Scotland, with the Met Office also issuing a yellow weather warning of heavy rain and snow across most of Scotland. The amber alert warns of potential flooding and travel disruption, and the yellow alert warns of heavy rain and snow.
These weather conditions have already caused travel disruptions, including the closure of the Highland Main Line due to flooding. Forecasters predict persistent heavy rain throughout Monday and Tuesday across Scotland, with some areas potentially experiencing up to 140mm of rainfall.
In response to the weather warnings, the Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGORR) has been activated, and authorities are urging people to plan ahead if traveling during the New Year period. This situation is actively developing, and updates will follow.
