The Met Office have issued yellow weather warnings for southern England on New Year’s Day, with the area including around Milton Keynes expected to experience strong wind.

The warning for southern England is in place between midnight and 3pm on New Year’s Day tomorrow.

Weather warnings do not include New Year’s Eve itself, although today’s forecast (31/12/24) is for strong winds for most of the day in excess of 40mph.

A period of unsettled weather is having effects elsewhere in the UK, with planned New Year’s celebrations, street parties and fireworks in Edinburgh cancelled and doubts raised over the annual New Year’s firework display in London, although at present it is still scheduled to go ahead.

Discussing the New Year’s Day system, the Met Office said, “Strong southwesterly winds are expected overnight and during Wednesday. The strongest winds are expected across coastal regions in the west and south of the warning area, where gusts of 65-75 mph are possible.

“Inland, highest gusts will typically be between 45 and 55 mph, but possibly 60 mph in places, particularly in association with the passage of squally cold front which will bring a band of heavy rain southwards. The wind is expected to ease quickly from the north through the course of the day as this cold front passes.”

Guidance issued for yellow weather warnings for wind includes notes that there is a small chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected, that there is a slight chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, and that there is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

In addition, there is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, while there is also a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris, and a small chance that some roads and bridges could close.

The weather is forecast to change rapidly when the storm front passes. From January 2nd, temperatures are forecast to plummet, going from over 10 degrees C down to around 3, with negative overnight temperatures and icy roads anticipated.