Revellers braced for chilly New Year’s Eve fireworks as Arctic freeze plunges in the direction of Britain – with snow warnings set to return into drive
New Year’s Eve revellers are braced for freezing temperatures tonight as they head out to watch firework displays across the country.
The Met Office has issued a 42-hour yellow warning for heavy snow showers, ice and gale force winds in Scotland from 6am on New Year’s Day until the end of Friday.
Forecaster Simon Partridge has warned it will be ‘cold regardless of where you are’ tonight as an Arctic freeze plunging towards Britain.
‘At midnight in London there will be mostly clear skies, it will be quite chilly, but with fairly light winds, with temperatures around 1-2C,’ he said.
‘For Cardiff it’s again dry, there will be a bit more cloud around but still dry, again light winds, temperatures there a little bit warmer, 2-3C.’
There will be cloudier skies further north, but this is not expected to affect visibility for watching fireworks displays from viewpoints, Mr Partridge said.
‘We are not looking at low cloud, mist or murk, so you should be able to see fireworks, just not stars.’
For Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, there will be wind gusts of up to 25-30mph and a chance of showers and hail, the meteorologist added.
Many have woken up to a frosty start today and some fog is expected to linger in the South West but this should make way for winter sunshine, the Met Office predicts.
New Year’s Eve revellers are braced for freezing temperatures tonight as they head out to watch firework displays across the country. Pictured: Crowds gather in London last year
Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye in central London during the 2025 New Year celebrations
Patches of freezing fog are also possible in the west and north-west of England, the national weather service said as it advised those travelling early on New Year’s Day to take care.
In a post on X the Met Office said: ‘A cold New Year’s Eve evening for those out celebrating, so extra layers will be needed.’
In London, where tens of thousands will flock to the banks of the Thames to watch the mayor’s annual fireworks display, the temperature will be just above freezing when Big Ben strikes midnight.
Those planning on seeing outdoor displays in Cumbria may need to pack waterproof clothing as cold winds could pick up in the North West towards midnight with a few showers possible.
Temperatures will drop further as 2026 begins, with snow and gale force winds set to batter the north of the country.
A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for parts of Scotland north of the central belt from 6am on New Year’s Day until midnight on January 2.
Strong, potentially gale-force northerly winds will also batter those in the warning zone, the Met Office said.
Rowers on the river Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire yesterday
Image shows forecast at midnight tonight for the New Year
People walk by canal boats in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire amid cold temperatures
Around 10cm snow is expected to have accumulated in some areas by Friday morning, reaching up to 30cm on the highest roads and hills.
Meanwhile, amber cold health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the North East and North West of England, which are due to remain in place until noon on January 5, with temperatures expected to fall to 3-5C.
The UKHSA said it means the weather is ‘likely’ to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a ‘rise in deaths’ among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
It comes as the UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold health alert for northern England, which is due to remain in place until noon on January 5.
The rest of England is covered by a yellow cold health alert for the same period amid concerns over ‘significant impacts across health and social care services’.
Temperature fell to -8.4C (16.9F) at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands on Monday after -7.2C (19F) at Altnaharra on Sunday – and similar lows are expected again this week.
The Met Office said the yellow warning for snow and ice, which it issued on yesterday means ‘frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption’.
By Friday morning, the Met Office is predicting 2cm (1in) to 5cm (2in) of snow, with 10cm (4in) in certain local areas and 10cm to 20cm (8in) in some areas above 200m.
On the highest routes and hills, 30cm (12in) or more may build through the period, the forecaster added.
Image shows the forecast for midnight on January 2. Snow and ice has been forecast in Scotland
Fishermen by the RSC Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire yesterday
Rowers on the river Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire on Tuesday
People walk across a bridge by flying seagulls in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire
It comes as the UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold health alert for northern England, which is due to remain in place until noon on January 5.
The rest of England is covered by a yellow cold health alert for the same period amid concerns over ‘significant impacts across health and social care services’.
Temperature fell to -8.4C (16.9F) at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands yesterday after -7.2C (19F) at Altnaharra on Sunday – and similar lows are expected again this week.
The Met Office said the yellow warning for snow and ice, which it issued yesterday, means ‘frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption’.
By Friday morning, the Met Office is predicting 2cm (1in) to 5cm (2in) of snow, with 10cm (4in) in certain local areas and 10cm to 20cm (8in) in some areas above 200m.
On the highest routes and hills, 30cm (12in) or more may build through the period, the forecaster added.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway previously said: ‘It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the new year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.
‘Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.
‘A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption.
‘These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the new year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely.
‘It looks like this cold spell will last through at least the first week of January, so it’s important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.’
The UKHSA said the UK may also see ‘impacts on younger people’ and there will likely be an ‘increase in demand for health services’ across the regions.
Other impacts include ‘temperatures inside places like hospitals and care homes dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks’, and ‘challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C leading to more risk to vulnerable people’, the UKHSA said.
