The UK Health Security Agency issued a UKHSA yellow cold alert for the North West and West Midlands from 09:00 GMT on Thursday until 12:00 on Saturday. Dr Anya Gopfert said it is the first cold health alert of the winter and urged people to check on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.
Dr Anya Gopfert
She said cold 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. That warning is tied to a short, defined window, with temperatures expected to fall sharply during Thursday and Friday.
The Met Office
The Met Office said colder conditions would begin to move into the north by Wednesday, with snow showers expected in northern Scotland overnight. It also said colder air would spread further south across the UK through Thursday and Friday.
North West and West Midlands
The alert is limited to the North West and West Midlands even as the colder spell spreads beyond those regions. Temperatures could fall as low as -1C in Chester on Friday morning and -1C in Barnoldswick in Lancashire, while other parts of England are not currently expected to be affected.
Dr Gopfert said more cold health alerts can be expected later in the season, and the current warning is due to end at 12:00 on Saturday. For people in the two affected regions, the immediate step is simple: check in on older relatives, neighbours and anyone with a health condition before the coldest stretch arrives.
