Tonight:
5°c
Revellers set for chilly New Year
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Forecasters have warned that night-time temperatures will plunge below zero in many places on New Year's Eve.
Party-goers in Edinburgh will need more than Hogmanay cheer to keep warm as a cold day, with the mercury struggling to get above zero, is followed by an even colder night with lows of minus 5C expected.
The whole country will be caught in a icy grip throughout the night with sub-zero temperatures forecast in most areas.
Northern England and Wales will see lows of minus 5C and the rest of the country will experience temperatures of between minus 1C and 0C.
"It is going to be quite cold in most places but the good news is that it is staying dry and winds are going to be generally light," said Claire Austin, forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association.
With fireworks displays planned throughout the UK many will be hoping for a clear night but scattered mist and freezing fog could spoil the view for some.
Meanwhile, more than 400,000 people are set to pack the capital for the New Year's Day Parade. Thousands of families are expected to brave the cold weather to enjoy the entertainment at the free event.
Organisers promised the 2009 event will be the biggest and best in its 23-year history and said the traditional spectacle will aim to breathe fresh air into London by helping visitors beat the credit crunch and start the year healthily.
More than 10,000 performers from all over the world, including more than 20 marching bands and 1,000 cheerleaders from the US, will entertain the crowds along the 2.2-mile route. Some performers were unable to travel from the United States because of winter storms and power failures, but organisers said the majority of overseas participants have made it to London.
Home-grown talent will also have a starring role in the event. A total of 24 London boroughs - including host City of Westminster - will compete for a slice of the £30,000 prize fund for their chosen charity in the Let's Help London Challenge.
