Fireworks displays cancelled due to bad weather

Published 6th Nov 2016

Two major fireworks displays in Edinburgh and Aberdeen have been cancelled at short notice due to bad weather.

The Bonfire Night display at Meadowbank stadium in the capital was first to be cancelled with organisers blaming expected high winds.

Edinburgh Leisure said tests showed rising wind speeds which could blow debris and hot materials into the stands.

Aberdeen City Council tweeted at just before 5pm that a firework display on Aberdeen beach had been cancelled due to deteriorating weather conditions''.

Forecasters had predicted a chilly weekend, with the risk of snow in pockets of Scotland on Bonfire Night.

Icy winds are expected to ravage coastal areas, forcing the cancellation of the Edinburgh and Aberdeen events.

Edinburgh Leisure apolgised for the cancellation.

A statement said: We are very sorry to cancel the fireworks display this evening at Meadowbank and ask that you do not travel to the venue. Due to unusually high wind speeds/direction, the event has been cancelled due to safety reasons.

At the time of test, 2.10pm, the wind speed was 11mph with no gusts, with some debris landing in front of the stand and smoke blowing into stand.

At 6pm it is expected to rise from 14mph to 26mph gusts and by event start, 27mph with gusts. Due to the nature of the stadium layout there is a swell affect.

Advice from the pyrotechnic organisers was that they could see the weather was getting stronger; two test shots gave smoke trails with hotter materials coming towards the stand.

During the show, debris would be much greater in volume and more likely to blow into stand, which if landing on a customer could cause burns and injury.

We therefore had to take the unfortunate decision to cancel.''

Refunds are being organised for the display.

Aberdeen City Council tweeted: Unfortunately we have taken the decision to cancel tonight's Firework display at Aberdeen Beach due to deteriorating weather conditions.''