Edinburgh's Hogmanay party goers advised to wrap up warm ahead of weather warnings
The Met Office is forecasting snow and wind to bring in 2025
Anyone heading to Edinburgh for this year’s Hogmanay celebrations is being advised to dress up warm, as the Met Office issues two weather warnings as the capital rings in 2025.
Organisers of this year’s events say the weather does look “more favourable” on New Year’s Eve, but it was a “challenge” to complete preparations during the expected wind and rain.
Much of Scotland will be covered by a yellow warning for rain and snow starting on December 30 until midnight on December 31, with one for wind overlapping all day on Tuesday.
Organisers and police are urging people to take care if they head out for the bells.
"Dress appropriately for the weather"
Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: “Make sure if you’re coming that you’re prepared for the weather conditions, it’s also going to be wet, windy and cold.”
He added: “Think about how you’ll look after your friends and family, think about a meeting place, think about what you’ll do if you become separated.”
For those planning to bring the new year in with a drink, he had this message: “Make sure you know your limits.
“Make sure that this events and the celebrations are memorable for all the right reasons.”
Co-festival director Al Thompson said much of the planning for the four-day festival of events, which kicked off with the light parade on Sunday night and will continue until January 2, had been brought forward because of the weather.
"Think about how you'll look after your friends and family"
He explained it was “so that we're not having to build those or put things in place whilst there's high winds or heavy rain".
He continued: "That allows us to get early things in place, so that we're not having to worry about them on the day."
He also said they had contingencies and "fallbacks" in place for the day itself, adding: "The events, especially the large outdoor events, are designed in such a way that they are robust to a degree, with whatever weather".
He continued: "If the weather becomes uncomfortable for the audience, then it's not necessarily something that we want to happen.
"Please wrap up warm"
"But the concert in the gardens arena itself is already built so that's in place. So, we just have to maintain that and monitor that over the next 48 hours.
"But it's ready to be used tomorrow night and on December 31 so it's an area that's there, the fireworks are already going in and going into place. So, all of those contingencies are kind of happening."
Mr Thompson also reminded people coming to Hogmanay that "it's winter in Scotland” and urged them to dress accordingly.
"Please wrap up warm, dress for the weather. Plan ahead. Make sure you know what we are messaging, what our updates are, before you attend.
"Make sure you know your limits"
"And we will just make sure people are informed about what's happening with the weather and all events on the days that they are happening."
His calls were echoed by city council leader Jane Meagher, who said: “Dress appropriately to the weather.
“It’s Scotland, it’s he winter, it’s likely to be cold, it’s likely to be windy, and it could even rain, so dress appropriately.
“But the most important thing is to have great fun, and that’s what we’re all here for.”
Rayo Premium