Torrential rain sparks travel chaos in Scotland as Met Office issues warning for snow and ice

Torrential rain sparked travel chaos in Scotland yesterday after a Hogmanay washout as the Met Office issued a warning for snow and ice with flood warnings across the UK.

The rail network shuddered to a halt, with tracks submerged and lines blocked by landslips, while roads were closed due to flash floods.

Heavy rain and high winds, combined with widespread travel disruption, put a dampener on the flagship Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh.

On New Year’s Eve, a yellow warning for rain was in place for southern Wales and the south west of England. 

Revellers on Princes Street before the Hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edinburgh

The Welney wash fills with floodwater as the levels of The Old Bedford river and River Delph rise after recent rain, in Welney, Cambridgeshire

Today will see a wet and snowy start for southern Scotland, while the rest of the UK should be dry with some scattered showers

Forecasters said the deadly bomb cyclone that sent temperatures plunging in the US over Christmas is causing the unsettled weather in the UK.

Nicola Maxey, from the Met Office, said: ‘The extreme cold weather in the US has boosted the jet stream, which is bringing our wet and windy weather.’ 

Today will see a wet and snowy start for southern Scotland, while the rest of the UK should be dry with some scattered showers. 

Showers are expected this afternoon mostly in Wales and North England and wintry downpours will move through Scotland. 

Monday will be dry for most of the UK with bright and possibly sunny spells at times, especially in the east.

In the evening, a band of rain moving towards the UK will bring overcast conditions.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Helen Caughey said: ‘It’ll be an unsettled New Year weekend for much of the UK. New Year’s Eve for most will be the wetter of the two days, with a number of fronts bringing rain and wind across much of the country. 

‘The unsettled weather will stay with us into the evening. 

A man takes an early morning swim on New Year’s Day at the Serpentine in London

Crowds queue for entry at Princes Street, before the Hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edinburgh

Met Office chiefs said to expect further heavy rain and issued a warning of snow and ice in the north of the country

A snow plough clears the A939 after heavy snowfall in the Scottish Highlands

A shopkeeper closes his shop in Whitesands, Dumfries, due to flooding caused by the River Nith overflowing

A woman takes an early morning swim on New Year’s Day at the Serpentine in London

‘This will be followed by a more mixed New Year’s Day, with Scotland seeing the bulk of the unsettled conditions, with spells of rain, turning to snow over higher ground, continuing to push north.’

Next week is set to start with a drier and brighter interlude before further ‘showers or longer spells of rain’. 

Vincent Fitzsimons, flood duty manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: ‘Many people are likely to be travelling ahead of Hogmanay and are advised to plan ahead for their journeys.’

Met Office chiefs said to expect further heavy rain and issued a warning of snow and ice in the north of the country. 

Yesterday’s deluge, which sparked ten flood alerts and 27 flood warnings, caused widespread disruption including the suspension of rail services between Edinburgh and Dundee, Ayr and Glasgow and the West Coast Main Line at Lockerbie.

Partygoers defied wet weather to welcome in 2023 after the Met Office issued yellow warnings for rain in England’s South West and southern Wales, and warnings for ice and snow across the Scottish Highlands.

Big Ben bonged in England’s capital as a crowd of more than 100,000 people gathered along the Thames Embankment in central London to watch 12,000 fireworks streak across the sky.

The sold-out show was designed to send a message of ‘love and unity’, as it highlighted the Lionesses’ history-making Euro win at Wembley, marked 50 years of London’s Pride with a message from Peter Tatchell from the Gay Liberation Front, and sent a message of support to Ukraine.

The display also paid tribute to the late Queen, featuring a voice recording from her and words from Dame Judi Dench, before honouring the King, together with a message from Charles about the need to preserve our planet’s future.

Drones spelled out a positive message during the show, welcoming in ‘2023 with love from London’ as fireworks exploded behind them.

Complete with music that included Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, Ukrainian Eurovision winner Kalush Orchestra, and hits from Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Cher, Dave, Rihanna and Calvin Harris, the show concluded with the traditional Auld Lang Syne.