Snow forecast sees all of England under AMBER alert as ‘rise in deaths likely’
Amber cold health alerts are in place across England after Met Office weather forecasters issued a slew of new warnings for snow and ice over the coming days
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded warning across the whole of England, with a 'rise in deaths' likely due to the coming cold weather.
In an update this morning, the agency confirmed an amber cold health alert had now been issued for: East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, London.
The update warns that "forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services," adding that freezing temperatures are likely to result in a rise in deaths across the country.
The rise in deaths is predicted to hit "those aged 65 and over or with health conditions," the agency said. "We may also see impacts on younger age groups," it added.
Image:
Getty Images)The cold snap also means an increased likelihood of temperatures dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics. More generally, the UKHSA warned of challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C, leading to more risk to vulnerable people.
There could also be staffing issues due to potential travel delays and impacts on the transport and energy sectors, the government body warned.
On Monday, the UKHSA issued two amber alerts for the North East and the North West, with the rest of England under lower-risk yellow alerts. Today all warnings were upgraded to amber, meaning significant impacts across health and social care services are now deemed 'likely' by authorities across the whole of England. The alerts are in place from 8pm this evening until January 6 at 10am.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable. The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said Brits face freezing weather as we head into the New Year. “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," he said.
"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."
A yellow warning for snow and ice is now in place from 12am on Friday, January 2, covering parts of the southeast, London, the West Midlands and much of Wales. At least 79 places are under snow warnings in the coming days and there are warnings in Northern Ireland and the north of Scotland on January 2.