Fog, mist in Britain may dampen New Year celebrations

LONDON - Millions in Britain will see in 2011 at New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight but cloud, fog and mist may dampen the annual firework displays in the capital.

As warmer temperatures tempt the crowds on to the streets, most parts of Britain are expected to have a covering of cloud with some drizzle, although the evening is expected to stay dry, Daily Telegraph reported.

And with the mercury reaching four degrees Celsius after weeks of heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures, organisers are expecting hundreds of thousands to join in the New Year festivities in London and Hogmanay celebrations in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Tony Conlan, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “It’s going to stay cloudy and misty with patchy drizzle over most of the country but it’s going to be largely dry.

“Temperatures are not going to be too bad, generally 2C to 4C above freezing going into midnight.”

Final preparations for the extravaganza in the capital are being made with a British pyrotechnic firm being used for the first time in the fireworks display.

Cambridgeshire company Kimbolton Fireworks will be behind the spectacle at the London Eye, which will also be set to music for the first time with BBC Radio 1 DJ Nihal providing the soundtrack.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said the “dazzling” display would capture the “dynamism, colour and energy” of the city in front of an expected 250,000 people along the River Thames.

Crowds of revellers were also expected to turn out for the Edinburgh Hogmanay street party and festival, which began last night with a torchlight procession along the Royal Mile.

Tonight’s Concert in the Gardens, featuring Biffy Clyro, The Charlatans and Billy Bragg, was sold out along with the Keilidh in Resolution Square.

A candlelit concert will take place at St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile while organisers were gearing up for a spectacular firework display from Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill.

In Glasgow, crowds will be toasting the New Year with one of Scotland’s biggest outdoor ceilidhs, in George Square.

Scottish trad-rockers Skerryvore and Celtic music legends Capercaillie will be appearing at the massive street party.

The celebrations continue Jan 1 with the 25th New Year’s Day parade through London.

Cloudy and misty weather is forecast as half a million people are expected to pack the streets of Westminster for the free event.

More than 8,500 musicians, cheerleaders and performers, including those from 20 London boroughs, will take part in the 2.2 mile parade with a special message from the Queen read out to start proceedings.