UKHSA warns of threat to vulnerable people from frosty conditions expected to last until Thursday
More cold health alerts have been issued for parts of the UK on Sunday night and next week.
The alerts were issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the north-west, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, and will be in place from 9pm on Sunday until 9am on Thursday.
These alerts mean the weather is “likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services”, including an increased use of healthcare services and a greater risk to life for vulnerable people, the agency said. The warning came after forecasters predicted the UK was in for a milder weekend, before another cold snap arrives on Monday.
Paul Coleman, a consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said: “This is the latest cold health alert of the season and we can expect more as we move further into winter.
“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, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable.”
Coleman advised people to heat the rooms they use most and wear warm clothes.
The Met Office said that on Saturday night, central and easterly parts of England should remain dry with clear spells and a touch of frost, though cloudier conditions are forecast elsewhere as well as some showery rain.
On Sunday, temperatures are expected to not fall below freezing in the morning, with sunshine forecast in the east and across the far north and west as the day progresses.
Conditions are otherwise expected to be fairly bleak with plenty of grey skies, cold breezes and outbreaks of rain, some heavy, and potential hill snow in the north.
On Monday, colder weather is expected to return. Sunny skies will appear in patches across the UK, while cold showers are forecast to rain down in the north of the UK. Light snow is also expected in hilly areas in the north.
Ethan Douglas, operational meteorologist at the Met Office, told the Press Association: “On Sunday night and Monday morning, there is the potential for some disruptive ice (given the preceding rain and cold night) and snow.
“The snow risk will be constrained to Scottish hills, bringing difficult driving conditions there. The ice risk may be present more widely across the north of the UK, causing extended journey times and potentially hazardous travelling conditions.”
The brighter weather will continue throughout the week, though people should expect declining temperatures, the Met Office said.
On Friday night, temperatures plunged as low as -6.6C in Sennybridge, near Brecon in south Wales, and -6.5C in Shap, a village near Penrith in Cumbria.
The first yellow cold health alerts of the season were issued earlier this week by the UKHSA for the West Midlands and the north-west, and remained in place until noon on Saturday.
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Source: www.theguardian.com
