The Met Office has issued a rare amber alert for the entirety of England as temperatures plummet.
The UK Health Security Agency issued a joint warning with the national forecaster for every region of the country ahead of heavy snow and bracing temperatures.
The amber cold health alert is in place from 12pm Thursday, January 2, and will remain in place until the same time Wednesday, January 8. They expect the freezing conditions will have “severe impacts across health and social care services”.
Those aged 65 and over, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are most at risk as the freezing conditions could lead to a “rise in deaths”. Health services and transport are also likely to feel the pressure as the weather is set to cause travel chaos and a surge in admissions.
The alerts have been issued for the West Midlands, East Midlands, north east of England, north west of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, the east of England, London, the south East of England and the south west of England. In the forecast, the Met Office said: “It will be a cold but mostly sunny day across the UK.
“Wintry showers for coasts exposed to the northerly breeze and North Sea. Remaining blustery in the north and east with lighter winds elsewhere.
It added: “A cold and frosty night will then follow for all with icy stretches possible. Wintry showers will persist in the north and patchy freezing fog is possible in the west.”
Looking at the forecast for Friday, January 3, the Met Office said: “Cold again with plenty of winter sunshine on offer, especially in the south and east. Wintry showers affecting northern and western coasts, winds staying generally light.”
In its outlook for Saturday, January 5, to Monday, January 6, it added: “Possibly disruptive rain and snow arriving in the south on Saturday, moving north into central areas on Sunday where it will turn milder. Colder, drier with wintry showers on Monday.”
Yellow weather warnings are also in place for snow. A total of 12 regions of the UK will be affected between noon on Saturday, January 4, and 9am on Monday, January 6.
Earlier today, a new map emerged showing a “Beast from the East” weather front coming to batter the British Isles in a matter of days.
WXCharts have released a new graphic showing the huge wall of icy conditions come careening over Scandinavia, through Europe, and blasting across the UK.
The vast majority of the country will feel the freeze as temperatures drop to at least -10C, with some areas – mainly in the east and southeast – bearing the brunt of the blast with the mercury dropping as low as -15C.
It comes at the end of a two-week Arctic blast, which could see up to 30 inches of snow in some regions. Despite having a mild Christmas, with temperatures rising into double figures and plenty of fog settling – this will soon change as the icy chill makes its way from the east.
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