UKHSA issues Cold Weather Alert as low temperatures forecast
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-09)

Amber Cold-Health Alerts are in place for all regions of England starting midday 2 January.

Latest update

As of Thursday 9 January, the amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been extended until 9am on Tuesday 14 January.

Previously, all regions were under an amber alert until midday on Sunday 12 January.

Previous

6 January

As of Monday 6 January, the amber CHA issued by UKHSA has been extended until midday on Sunday 12 January.

Previously, all regions were under an amber alert until midday on Wednesday 8 January.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.

This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable. These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.

2 January

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) for all regions of England from midday on Thursday 2 January until midday on Wednesday 8 January. All regions had previously been under a yellow CHA.

Expected low temperatures are likely to result in increased use of health care services by vulnerable people and an increase in risk to health for individuals aged 65 years and over, those with pre-existing health conditions (including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) and some other vulnerable groups, such as those sleeping rough.

UKHSA has published guidance for professionals protecting vulnerable people (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-and-health-supporting-vulnerable-people) and for the public (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-warm-keep-well-leaflet-gives-advice-on-staying-healthy-in-cold-weather) on staying safe during periods of cold weather.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable. These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.

Under the CHA system (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-launches-new-alerting-system-in-collaboration-with-the-met-office) introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, an amber alert means that cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors may also start to observe impacts, indicating a coordinated response is required.

The Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (for example, snow and ice) with short notice, so you can take appropriate action. Check the Met Office Website to see the National Severe Weather Warnings (https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2025-01-02) currently in place.

While the Cold-Health Alerts focus on health impacts of adverse weather for vulnerable groups in England - helping health and social services prepare - the National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) provides broader warnings on severe weather risks across the UK.

Check the UKHSA Blog to see how Weather-Health Alerts differ from the National Severe Weather Warning Service (https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2023/11/03/how-weather-health-alerts-differ-from-the-national-severe-weather-warning-service/).

18 November

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert (https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold?type=cold) of the winter season for the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. A new amber alert has also been issued for East of England from 10:00 on Monday 18 November and yellow alerts will be in place for South East, South West and London from 08:00 on Tuesday 19 November.

Expected low temperatures are likely to result in increased use of health care services by vulnerable people and an increase in risk to health for individuals aged 65 years and over, those with pre-existing health conditions (including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) and some other vulnerable groups, such as those sleeping rough.

The amber alert will be in place from 10:00 on Monday 18 November with all alerts currently in place until Saturday 23 November at 18:00.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.

UKHSA has published guidance for professionals protecting vulnerable people (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-and-health-supporting-vulnerable-people) and for the public (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-warm-keep-well-leaflet-gives-advice-on-staying-healthy-in-cold-weather) on staying safe during periods of cold weather.

Under the Weather Health Alert system developed by UKHSA and the Met Office, there are 3 Cold-Health Alert levels that may be issued:

Yellow alerts may be issued during periods of cold which are unlikely to impact most people, but which could pose an increased risk those who are particularly vulnerable (such as the elderly or those with significant health conditions). A yellow alert may also be issued if the confidence in the weather forecast is low, but there could be more significant impacts if the worst-case scenario is realised.

Amber alerts are issued in situations in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, where there is potential for the whole population to be at risk, and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.

Red alerts indicate significant risk to life for even the healthy population. Impacts would be expected across all sectors with a coordinated response essential.

The Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (for example, snow and ice) with short notice, so you can take appropriate action. Check the Met Office Website to see the National Severe Weather Warnings (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metoffice.gov.uk%2Fweather%2Fwarnings-and-advice%2Fuk-warnings%23%3Fdate%3D2023-10-20&data=05%7C02%7CPip.Reilly%40ukhsa.gov.uk%7Cddbfbf6dfd564a09bae208dd07cba885%7Cee4e14994a354b2ead475f3cf9de8666%7C0%7C0%7C638675293460592748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=oBEaPIqM%2BCx7VOY5InLZT4UIozbMAR2IlM98vpjnA2k%3D&reserved=0) currently in place.

While the Cold-Health Alerts focus on health impacts of adverse weather for vulnerable groups in England - helping health and social services prepare - the National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) provides broader warnings on severe weather risks across the UK.

Check the UKHSA Blog to see how Weather-Health Alerts differ from the National Severe Weather Warning Service (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fukhsa.blog.gov.uk%2F2023%2F11%2F03%2Fhow-weather-health-alerts-differ-from-the-national-severe-weather-warning-service%2F&data=05%7C02%7CPip.Reilly%40ukhsa.gov.uk%7Cddbfbf6dfd564a09bae208dd07cba885%7Cee4e14994a354b2ead475f3cf9de8666%7C0%7C0%7C638675293460617128%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IsDnSnCrWye1n5Gisa%2FO%2FooBQKpxFWIYKslJbeC1xsY%3D&reserved=0).