As Scotland readies itself to ring in 2026, a dramatic mix of celebration and caution has swept across the country, with weather warnings and festive anticipation shaping the final hours of the year. The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for snow and ice covering much of northern and northeastern Scotland, including the Northern Isles, Hebrides, Angus, Perth and Kinross, and parts of Argyll and Bute. This warning, in effect from 6:00am on New Year’s Day until midnight on Sunday, comes as gale-force winds are forecast for Orkney and Shetland beginning at 9:00pm on Hogmanay, December 31, 2025.
The weather system promises to bring the first significant snow of the winter to many parts of the UK, with Arctic air and freezing temperatures expected to sweep down from the north. According to the Met Office, these wintry conditions will not be fleeting. Mark Sidaway, Deputy Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, told the Express, “It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the New Year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026. Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.”
The impact of this cold snap is already being felt in cities like Glasgow, where the end of 2025 is marked by a sharp temperature drop and a warning for snow and ice in Strathclyde. As reported by Glasgow Live, Hogmanay evening will bring heavy showers, with rainfall rates reaching up to eight millimeters per hour around 11:00pm. Temperatures will hover at a maximum of 6°C on December 31, but as the clock strikes midnight and the city steps into 2026, clear skies and frosty conditions are expected, with the mercury dipping to -2°C in the morning. The rest of the week will remain dry but bitterly cold, with nighttime lows plummeting to -3°C and strong northerly winds occasionally reaching gale force along the coasts.
Despite the challenging forecast, the spirit of Hogmanay remains undampened in Edinburgh, where the city’s legendary street party is set to proceed as planned. Organizers expect around 45,000 revelers to pack Princes Street for a night of music, fireworks, and celebration. William Burdett-Coutts, the artistic director of Unique Assembly, told BBC Scotland News, “I think last year was one of the most depressing moments I’ve been through, when we had to call it off. So it’s fantastic to be back and the public have totally embraced it. There’s lots of people turning out this evening. I think we’re up to about 45,000 so far for the street party. The concert will be going on for most of the evening, and it should be a fantastic night. It will be an amazing party.”
This year, the festivities will feature indie rock band Wet Leg headlining the Concert in the Gardens, with Scottish acts Hamish Hawk and Lucia & The Best Boys providing support. For those seeking a different vibe, the Street Party Mega Silent Disco offers three genres of music for party-goers to dance the night away. As midnight approaches, Titanium Fireworks will deliver a six-minute spectacle involving around 10,000 fireworks, set to a bespoke soundtrack. Will Evans, director of Titanium Fireworks, shared with BBC Scotland News, “At midnight this year there will be a six-minute show involving about 10,000 fireworks, accompanied by a bespoke soundtrack. An earlier ‘teaser’ display at 21:00 would be celebrating Scotland. It’s a really positive vibe to start the evening with.”
Safety remains a top priority amid the celebrations. Temporary airspace restrictions will be enforced over Edinburgh city centre from 6:00pm on Hogmanay until 2:00am on New Year’s Day, prohibiting drone flights below 2,000 feet within one nautical mile of Edinburgh Castle. Network Rail has cautioned travelers that train lines in northern Scotland may be disrupted by snow, urging people to check their journeys in advance. The last trains on Hogmanay will depart earlier than usual, and no trains will run on New Year’s Day. Northlink Ferries has also warned of possible service disruptions, while Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has activated contingency plans to respond to any network damage caused by the weather.
Other Scottish traditions are adapting to the forecast as well. Stonehaven’s iconic Hogmanay fireball event will go ahead, drawing an expected crowd of 10,000 spectators. The ritual, which sees around 40 men and women parade the High Street swinging flaming balls before tossing them into the harbour, is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the year ahead. However, not all events have been so fortunate. The annual Nippy Dip in Stonehaven, a bracing New Year’s Day swim, has been canceled due to safety concerns. The Stonehaven & District Community Council stated, “Looking at the latest weather forecast(s) including a weather warning, we must put safety first, thus have reluctantly taken the decision to cancel this year’s Nippy Dip.”
Meanwhile, the 40th New Year’s Day Loony Dook in South Queensferry will see hundreds of brave souls, many in elaborate fancy dress, plunge into the freezing Firth of Forth. This quirky tradition, which began in 1987 as a hangover cure among friends, has grown into a beloved spectacle that draws participants and spectators alike, regardless of the weather.
The Hogmanay season in Edinburgh officially began with Monday night’s torchlight procession, where about 15,000 participants and 10,000 spectators marched through the Meadows with flaming torches en route to Edinburgh Castle. The fiery display set the tone for a city determined to celebrate, come rain, snow, or shine.
Looking ahead, the Met Office predicts that the cold spell and associated wintry hazards—snow, ice, and strong winds—will persist through at least the first week of January. Frequent snow showers are expected to move into northern Scotland, with up to two inches (5cm) of snow possible at low levels by Friday and as much as a foot (30cm) on the hills. Lightning could pose an additional hazard, and significant drifting of snow is likely due to the high winds. Snow could even reach as far south as London, Norfolk, and Somerset, according to WXCharts.com, though the Met Office cautions that predicting snow more than a few days ahead is notoriously difficult in the UK’s temperate climate.
With 33 regions across Scotland, England, and Wales under threat of snow, authorities are urging residents and travelers to stay informed and heed the latest forecasts and warnings. As the nation prepares to greet 2026, Scotland stands as a testament to resilience—undaunted by the elements and ready, as ever, to celebrate the turning of the year in true Hogmanay style.
