January 1st 2025.
As the new year approaches, we are now under an amber warning for heavy rain on New Year's Day. This rare alert has been issued by the Met Office and will be in effect from 8pm on New Year's Eve until 9am on Wednesday. This warning comes as over 130 flood warnings have been put in place across the UK, with the potential for "fast flowing or deep floodwater" that could pose a danger to life.
According to forecasters, the persistent and heavy rain will continue overnight and then gradually clear southwards throughout the morning of New Year's Day. The amber warning covers the north west and central regions of England, including parts of Derbyshire, Blackburn, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. Heavy rain is also expected in Cheshire and South Yorkshire for a few hours this morning.
In light of these conditions, TransPennine Express has advised customers to delay their travels until after noon, as flooding has caused significant issues in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The Met Office forecast predicts 40-50mm of rain in many areas, with up to 100mm in some west-facing hills. There is even a possibility for some locations to receive over 100mm of rain.
This adds to the already existing weather alerts in place for New Year's Eve, including yellow warnings for rain in Wales and north-west England, wind in northeastern England, Cumbria and southern Scotland, and snow in the rest of Scotland. The amber alert specifically warns of likely flooding to homes and businesses in central Scotland, including Inverness. On Monday, there were 10 flood alerts and 20 flood warnings in place.
The Met Office also warns of the potential for communities to become cut off due to flooded roads, as well as power cuts and other service outages. In response to these risks, the Scottish government has called a meeting of its emergency and crisis response unit. In western Scotland, up to 140mm of rain is expected to fall today and tomorrow, with snow predicted in most other areas of Scotland.
Meanwhile, northern England, the Midlands, and Wales are expected to experience winds of up to 60mph and blustery showers until mid-afternoon. These conditions may result in travel disruptions and other hazards until 11pm. However, the storms are expected to weaken as they move southwards, bringing lighter showers to the southwest and southeast in the evening.
We can expect a brief break from the stormy weather overnight, but another large storm is expected to hit the UK on New Year's Day. The Met Office has issued further yellow weather alerts for "very strong winds" across England from 9am until 6am the following day. Gusts of 65-75mph are likely in coastal and hilly areas, with 50-60mph gusts inland. Heavy rain is also expected in western regions in the morning and throughout the day, while northern England and southern Scotland may experience heavy rain in the late afternoon.
In Wales, the rain is expected to be heavy enough to warrant a yellow warning. The Met Office warns that flooding of homes and businesses is likely in some areas, along with potential power cuts and disruptions to roads and public transport. Chief forecaster Andy Page explains that the weather forecast for the UK is very complex, with snow, strong winds, and heavy rain all expected in different regions. He urges everyone to keep checking the forecast and adjust their plans accordingly, especially with many celebrations and travels taking place during this time.
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