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Showers and flood warnings for New Year's Eve Crowds brave New Year's Eve showers across UK
(about 2 hours later)
Revellers across the UK are being warned to pack umbrellas for New Year's Eve events and avoid floodwater, as 2012 ends on a damp note. Crowds across the UK are braving possible wet weather at New Year's Eve events, as 2012 ends on a damp note.
Forecasters say there is a risk of showers in many places, particularly the north and west of England.Forecasters say there is a risk of showers in many places, particularly the north and west of England.
There are currently more than href="http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx" title="Environment Agency" >90 flood warnings and about 192 flood alerts in force in England and Wales, with href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding.aspx" title="Scotttish Environment Protection Agency" >23 warnings and 9 alerts in Scotland. href="/news/uk-england-london-20874115" title="London set for for new year party" >Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the Thames in London to watch the fireworks display.
The weather has caused travel chaos in parts of Wales. href="/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-20875106" title="Large Hogmanay crowds predicted" >Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on the streets of Edinburgh for the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations.
Up to an inch of rain (20 to 25mm) fell on higher ground in south Wales on Monday morning. A spectacular fireworks display has already got under way in Northern Ireland to mark the start of the href="http://www.cityofculture2013.com/" >Derry-Londonderry 2013 City of Culture year.
Arriva Trains Wales said it was forced to cancel services and use buses to transport passengers between Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog, Conwy, and between Newtown and Machynlleth, Powys.
Flooding is also affecting the line at Ferryside, Carmarthenshire.
During the afternoon and evening of Monday, a band of rain has pushed eastwards across the UK, which will be followed by a band of showers, BBC forecaster Holly Green said.
These are particularly likely to affect the north and west, but the South East could also see some showers.
It is possible 2012 will be the wettest year since records began.
But 2013 will start on a brighter note, with many places staying dry on New Year's Day.
Firework displays
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the banks of the Thames in London on Monday evening to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Much of central London will be closed to traffic, but the Tube will run all night and most public transport will be free from 23:45 GMT until 04:30 GMT.Much of central London will be closed to traffic, but the Tube will run all night and most public transport will be free from 23:45 GMT until 04:30 GMT.
Mayor Boris Johnson said the fireworks would round off a year that "glimmered with excitement and enthusiasm".Mayor Boris Johnson said the fireworks would round off a year that "glimmered with excitement and enthusiasm".
href="/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-20875106" title="Large Hogmanay crowds predicted" >Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on the streets of Edinburgh for the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations. In Edinburgh, Scottish rock band Simple Minds will headline the Concert in the Gardens, where they will be joined by The View and Bwani Junction against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
Scottish rock band Simple Minds will headline the Concert in the Gardens, where they will be joined by The View and Bwani Junction against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
And the organisers of the Derry-Londonderry 2013 City of Culture year are planning to kick off the year-long celebrations with a spectacular fireworks display.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Mobile networks are preparing for the "busiest ever" night of texts and calls as people see in the New Year
  • Flooding has forced Arriva Trains Wales to cancel services in Powys and Carmarthenshire
  • Cheltenham Racecourse has cancelled its New Year's Day meeting after heavy rain left the track waterlogged
  • Mobile flood barriers have been erected in towns including Ironbridge in Shropshire, Bewdley, Shrewsbury and Oxford.
  • On Exmoor, in Somerset, one of the region's oldest bridges, Exmoor's Tarr Steps, has been swept away by the swollen River Barle
  • Buses continue to replace trains between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall, and the line is not expected to reopen until New Year's Day at the earliest, National Rail said. Services also continue to be disrupted between Exeter and Exmouth; and Exeter and Barnstaple; but the line from Exeter to Crediton expected to reopen later
After days of flooding that brought parts of the UK to a standstill, river and groundwater levels are still high in many areas and there is a continued risk of localised flooding.After days of flooding that brought parts of the UK to a standstill, river and groundwater levels are still high in many areas and there is a continued risk of localised flooding.
The Environment Agency said: "Large rivers that respond slowly to rainfall, including the Thames, Trent and Severn, will continue rising through the next couple of days and high groundwater levels in southern England will continue to pose a risk to communities, particularly in Dorset.The Environment Agency said: "Large rivers that respond slowly to rainfall, including the Thames, Trent and Severn, will continue rising through the next couple of days and high groundwater levels in southern England will continue to pose a risk to communities, particularly in Dorset.
"People are urged to keep safe while they celebrate the New Year by keeping up to date with the latest flood warnings... We are also reminding people to stay away from flood water and not to drive through swollen rivers.""People are urged to keep safe while they celebrate the New Year by keeping up to date with the latest flood warnings... We are also reminding people to stay away from flood water and not to drive through swollen rivers."
There are currently more than 90 flood warnings and about 192 flood alerts in force in England and Wales, with 23 warnings and 9 alerts in Scotland.
About 540 properties had flooded since 19 December, while flood defences had protected more than 21,600 properties, it said.About 540 properties had flooded since 19 December, while flood defences had protected more than 21,600 properties, it said.
It said it had over 800 staff working during the festive period shoring up flood defences, clearing blockages from watercourses, monitoring river levels closely and installing temporary flood defences.It said it had over 800 staff working during the festive period shoring up flood defences, clearing blockages from watercourses, monitoring river levels closely and installing temporary flood defences.
Met Office figures show that 2012 will go down as one of the wettest years in the UK since records began in 1910, and it could yet be the wettest.Met Office figures show that 2012 will go down as one of the wettest years in the UK since records began in 1910, and it could yet be the wettest.
On Friday, the Met Office said 46mm (2in) of rain was needed to fall before 31 December to break the record for the UK, with 1,291.2mm (50in) having been recorded between 1 January and 26 December.On Friday, the Met Office said 46mm (2in) of rain was needed to fall before 31 December to break the record for the UK, with 1,291.2mm (50in) having been recorded between 1 January and 26 December.
Confirmation is expected later this week.Confirmation is expected later this week.
A new record has already been set for England, with 1,095.8mm falling in 2012 up to Boxing Day.A new record has already been set for England, with 1,095.8mm falling in 2012 up to Boxing Day.
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