New Year’s Eve weather: Rain forecast for 31st – but January could have a mild start for many

With heavy downpours forecast in parts of the country on New Year’s Eve, the start of 2023 is set to be a soggy one for many.

As the clocks strike midnight on Saturday, there is a 50% chance of rain in the capital and a 40% chance in Manchester.

Those celebrating in Cardiff have a whopping 60% chance of getting soaked, according to long range predictions from the Met Office.

Those welcoming in the new year in the bars and pubs of Edinburgh and Belfast have better odds of staying dry, with just a 20% chance of rain currently forecast.

Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour could also hamper celebrations.

Temperatures on New Year’s Eve are likely to be around 11-12C (51.8F-53.6F) in the south, and may reach 5-8C (41F-46.4F) in the north.

A milder start to 2023

Sky News weather producer Christopher England said: “The weather looks unsettled, with gales at times, but they will be mainly coastal. There will be further rain at times, some of it heavy in the west.”

A white New Year certainly looks to be off the cards, with “any snow likely to be restricted to the Scottish mountains”.

And while it looks like staying fairly cold in the north, those in the south can at least look forward to a little milder weather in the first few days of January.

New Year’s Day promises sunny spells in London and Belfast, a little sun in Manchester – along with light showers – and a cloudy day for those in Cardiff.

It’s bad news for people from Edinburgh though, with heavy rain likely to greet those waking up in the city on Sunday morning.

Looking ahead, less damp weather is in store, with the south and east expected to turn drier later next week.

Today and the next few days

The weather is currently rather unsettled, with wind and bouts of heavy rain making it feel chilly everywhere.

Yellow warnings for ice are in place across most of Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday, with travel disruption likely as some roads and railways will be affected by the weather.

A yellow warning for rain covering parts of southwest England and Wales, including Plymouth and Cardiff, also comes into effect from 2am on Wednesday, lasting until 3pm.

Rain will go on to spread to most places on strong winds, but the far north looks fine, and it will be mild, generally.