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30
Dec 2024
New year events cancelled in Harrogate district as weather warning issued
Events over the new year have been cancelled as strong winds are forecast to hit the Harrogate district this week.
The Met Office has four days of yellow weather warnings in place across the UK from today (December 30) until January 2.
Locally, the picture is changing regularly but at the time of publication the only current weather warning in place was for wind tomorrow (December 31).
Knaresborough Cricket Club, which organises the annual New Year’s Day duck race on the River Nidd, has postponed the event. It did so after warnings for snow and wind - with gusts of up to 44mph across the town - were in place on January 1.
However, the weather warning is now forecast to impact the west of England, according to Met Office, and snow is not currently forceast in Knaresborough.
Winds are still expected to reach between 25mph and 40mph in the town on New Year's Day.
The duck race, which begins on High Bridge, will instead take place on Sunday, January 5, at 1.30pm.
Organisers said all tickets will be valid on Sunday 5, and tickets are still available to buy at the cricket club on Aspin Lane. They will also be for sale on the day.
Ripon New Year’s Eve event
Yellow warnings are in place across most of northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tomorrow (December 31).
A wind warning has been issued for the Harrogate district, which will see winds of up to 50mph and rain on New Year's Eve. It is in place from 7am until 11pm.
Ripon City Council today cancelled the city’s biggest party of the year on Market Square.
Tomorrow's event was set to include free live entertainment and fireworks, as well as the setting of the watch ceremony carried out by one of Ripon’s hornblowers.
However, with gusts expected to reach 48mph and rain forecast from 10am across the city tomorrow, the council has pulled the plug on the event, though the setting of the watch ceremony at the obelisk on Market Square will still go ahead at 9pm.
It said on social media today:
Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel our New Year's Event on the Market Square due to the high winds forecast and yellow weather warning.
We wish you a very happy and safe New Year.
Although the weather warning is in place until 11pm, Met Office says winds will still be as high as 45mph at midnight in Pateley Bridge on January 1, and rain is expected in the lead up.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal will also close tomorrow (December 31) due to the forecasted wind and rain. The National Trust site said on social media it expects to open on New Year's Day but advised visitors to check its website for further updates.
High winds are expected in Pateley Bridge and parts of the Yorkshire Dales until 6pm tonight.
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