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| New Year's freeze for revellers | New Year's freeze for revellers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Forecasters have warned temperatures will fall below zero in many places across the UK as revellers welcome the new year. | Forecasters have warned temperatures will fall below zero in many places across the UK as revellers welcome the new year. |
| The 100,000 party-goers in Edinburgh will need more than good cheer to keep warm with lows of minus 2C. | The 100,000 party-goers in Edinburgh will need more than good cheer to keep warm with lows of minus 2C. |
| In London up to 500,000 are expected to attend a fireworks display, while Elton John is playing at the O2 Arena. | In London up to 500,000 are expected to attend a fireworks display, while Elton John is playing at the O2 Arena. |
| A range of New Year events have been planned for Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham among others. | A range of New Year events have been planned for Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham among others. |
| Freezing fog | |
| Sub-zero temperatures are also forecast for northern England and Wales, while many other areas could also see the mercury plunge. | Sub-zero temperatures are also forecast for northern England and Wales, while many other areas could also see the mercury plunge. |
| But revellers going to fireworks displays might not get a clear view, with mist, freezing fog and low cloud in some areas. | But revellers going to fireworks displays might not get a clear view, with mist, freezing fog and low cloud in some areas. |
| BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said the coldest weather would be in north-west England and England-Wales border areas, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 7C. | BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said the coldest weather would be in north-west England and England-Wales border areas, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 7C. |
| Belfast would see temperatures on New Year's Eve of minus 2C, London around zero, and Cardiff just below zero, he added. | Belfast would see temperatures on New Year's Eve of minus 2C, London around zero, and Cardiff just below zero, he added. |
| He also explained that snow seen falling in the Leeds, Manchester and Hull areas on Wednesday was "man made" and could probably be attributed to cooling tower clouds drifting slowly downwind. | |
| It happened last year and only occurs in certain atmospheric conditions when the tiny particles emitted by cooling towers are turned into snow crystals. | |
| Flight delays | |
| There is unlikely to be any let up in the cold weather for the first days of 2009. | |
| On New Year's Day cold temperatures and lots of fog are set to persist, with thickening fog over north-west England and the West Midlands. | On New Year's Day cold temperatures and lots of fog are set to persist, with thickening fog over north-west England and the West Midlands. |
| Daniel Corbett on the New Year's weather | Daniel Corbett on the New Year's weather |
| A little sunshine may break through in western Scotland, Wales and southern England. Spots of rain and snow may fall in north-east England and eastern Scotland, with a possibility of black ice. | A little sunshine may break through in western Scotland, Wales and southern England. Spots of rain and snow may fall in north-east England and eastern Scotland, with a possibility of black ice. |
| By 2 January more sunshine is expected, but the cold weather will remain for the forseeable future. | By 2 January more sunshine is expected, but the cold weather will remain for the forseeable future. |
| Meanwhile, Britons travelling to and from Geneva have suffered delays and cancellations after the airport runway was closed due to snow for several hours on Tuesday. | Meanwhile, Britons travelling to and from Geneva have suffered delays and cancellations after the airport runway was closed due to snow for several hours on Tuesday. |
| Easyjet said four of its flights - from Geneva to Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Newcastle - had been cancelled, and a further 26 UK connections delayed. | Easyjet said four of its flights - from Geneva to Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Newcastle - had been cancelled, and a further 26 UK connections delayed. |
| Although the runway has reopened there are knock-on delays of up to seven hours. Easyjet advised people travelling to and from Geneva to check flight details at easyjet.com or call 0871 244 2366. EVENTS AROUND THE UK London - Fireworks at the London EyeEdinburgh - Hogmanay street partyManchester - Fireworks in Exchange SquareBirmingham - Fireworks in Centenary SquareCardiff - Ex-X Factor hopeful Andy Abraham at the Civic Centre What are your new year plans? | Although the runway has reopened there are knock-on delays of up to seven hours. Easyjet advised people travelling to and from Geneva to check flight details at easyjet.com or call 0871 244 2366. EVENTS AROUND THE UK London - Fireworks at the London EyeEdinburgh - Hogmanay street partyManchester - Fireworks in Exchange SquareBirmingham - Fireworks in Centenary SquareCardiff - Ex-X Factor hopeful Andy Abraham at the Civic Centre What are your new year plans? |
| The party in Edinburgh - the self-styled Hogmanay capital - has been under way for a number of days already, to build up to the bringing in of the new year. | The party in Edinburgh - the self-styled Hogmanay capital - has been under way for a number of days already, to build up to the bringing in of the new year. |
| Events will include fireworks around Edinburgh Castle, live bands and a huge singalong of Auld Lang Syne, which organisers hope will break a world record. | Events will include fireworks around Edinburgh Castle, live bands and a huge singalong of Auld Lang Syne, which organisers hope will break a world record. |
| In Cardiff revellers will be able to sleep off their partying in an inflatable tent staffed by medics at the Millennium Stadium. | In Cardiff revellers will be able to sleep off their partying in an inflatable tent staffed by medics at the Millennium Stadium. |
| The sleepover centre has been converted from an emergency chemical decontamination tent. | The sleepover centre has been converted from an emergency chemical decontamination tent. |
| And in London police are gearing up for one of the busiest nights of the year. | And in London police are gearing up for one of the busiest nights of the year. |
| There will be 10 minutes of fireworks at the London Eye, on the banks of the River Thames, and on the nearby Shell building a huge projection will show music, a countdown to midnight and a speech from Mayor Boris Johnson. | There will be 10 minutes of fireworks at the London Eye, on the banks of the River Thames, and on the nearby Shell building a huge projection will show music, a countdown to midnight and a speech from Mayor Boris Johnson. |
| The Met's Supt Brian Pearce urged people to plan their night in advance and to take extra care after consuming alcohol. | The Met's Supt Brian Pearce urged people to plan their night in advance and to take extra care after consuming alcohol. |
| He added: "Hundreds of thousands of people used to travel to central London when there was nothing for them to see or do.HAVE YOUR SAYI'm going to have a bath, a glass of port and go to bed before the poor TV programmes startPhil, LiverpoolSend us your comments | He added: "Hundreds of thousands of people used to travel to central London when there was nothing for them to see or do.HAVE YOUR SAYI'm going to have a bath, a glass of port and go to bed before the poor TV programmes startPhil, LiverpoolSend us your comments |
| "Now with such a world-class fireworks display being staged the centre of town is more popular than ever before. | "Now with such a world-class fireworks display being staged the centre of town is more popular than ever before. |
| "Sadly, not everyone sets out just for a fun night out. | "Sadly, not everyone sets out just for a fun night out. |
| "There are those criminals who will use the cover of crowds to commit crime, so help yourself by keeping a close eye on all your belongings." | "There are those criminals who will use the cover of crowds to commit crime, so help yourself by keeping a close eye on all your belongings." |
| Tube services will be running all night, but the authorities have warned people may need to queue to get into stations because the demand will be high. | Tube services will be running all night, but the authorities have warned people may need to queue to get into stations because the demand will be high. |
| And on Thursday more than 400,000 people are expected to head into London for the New Year's Day Parade. | And on Thursday more than 400,000 people are expected to head into London for the New Year's Day Parade. |
| Organisers said the traditional spectacle aimed to breathe fresh air into London by helping visitors beat the credit crunch and start the year healthily. | Organisers said the traditional spectacle aimed to breathe fresh air into London by helping visitors beat the credit crunch and start the year healthily. |