| Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:38, 28th December 2025 |     |
From the BBC:
Cold weather to ring in New Year as amber health alerts issued
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued two amber health alerts for parts of the country as cold weather is set to ring in the new year.
The alerts, which warn of a rise in deaths particularly among elderly and vulnerable people, cover the North East and North West of England from 20:00 GMT on Sunday to 12:00 on 5 January.
Temperatures in these regions are expected to fall to around -4C, with snow predicted in the North West on 3 and 4 January. The low temperatures are likely to affect health and care services, the agency added.
Overnight into Monday, temperatures are expected to fall to as low as -1C in Penrith, with northern areas of Scotland set for temperatures of -6C.
Other impacts include temperatures inside hospitals and care homes dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks, and challenges for people keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C, the UKHSA said. Staffing issues, due to travel delays, may also arise from the cold spell.
Most of England will be cloudy overnight, and there will be patches of frost and fog which could mean "tricky travelling conditions" on Monday morning, the forecaster said.
Brisk northwesterly winds could bring wintry showers to the areas of northern England and drizzle in the lead up to New Year's Day.
Between 2 and 11 January, cold northerly winds in Scotland are expected to become dominant across the UK, bringing snow showers mainly to coastal areas that will work south, the Met Office said.
Inland locations across central and southern areas will remain mostly dry but cold.
On Friday, temperatures in the the North East and North West will feel colder due to the wind chill - a temperature of -4C could feel more like -8C, the Met Office said.
The agency also issued less serious yellow cold health alerts for the rest of England, covering the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
Temperatures in areas covered by the yellow warning are expected to fall to around highs of 6C and lows below freezing from New Year's Day.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said it was "vital" to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are vulnerable.
The predicted 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, he warned.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued two amber health alerts for parts of the country as cold weather is set to ring in the new year.
The alerts, which warn of a rise in deaths particularly among elderly and vulnerable people, cover the North East and North West of England from 20:00 GMT on Sunday to 12:00 on 5 January.
Temperatures in these regions are expected to fall to around -4C, with snow predicted in the North West on 3 and 4 January. The low temperatures are likely to affect health and care services, the agency added.
Overnight into Monday, temperatures are expected to fall to as low as -1C in Penrith, with northern areas of Scotland set for temperatures of -6C.
Other impacts include temperatures inside hospitals and care homes dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks, and challenges for people keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C, the UKHSA said. Staffing issues, due to travel delays, may also arise from the cold spell.
Most of England will be cloudy overnight, and there will be patches of frost and fog which could mean "tricky travelling conditions" on Monday morning, the forecaster said.
Brisk northwesterly winds could bring wintry showers to the areas of northern England and drizzle in the lead up to New Year's Day.
Between 2 and 11 January, cold northerly winds in Scotland are expected to become dominant across the UK, bringing snow showers mainly to coastal areas that will work south, the Met Office said.
Inland locations across central and southern areas will remain mostly dry but cold.
On Friday, temperatures in the the North East and North West will feel colder due to the wind chill - a temperature of -4C could feel more like -8C, the Met Office said.
The agency also issued less serious yellow cold health alerts for the rest of England, covering the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
Temperatures in areas covered by the yellow warning are expected to fall to around highs of 6C and lows below freezing from New Year's Day.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said it was "vital" to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are vulnerable.
The predicted 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, he warned.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK and implications for infrastructure - 2026 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:09, 30th December 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Warning of snow and gale-force winds on New Year's Day in Scotland
Heavy snow and gale-force winds have been forecast for north and north-east Scotland at the start of the new year.
The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning from 06:00 on Thursday - New Year's Day - until midnight on Friday.
It said there could be up to two inches (5cm) of snow at low levels by Friday, with four inches (10cm) in some places.
Up to eight inches (20cm) of snow could accumulate on higher ground, with as much as 12 inches (30cm) on the hills. There is a warning of "significant" drifting of snow due to the high winds.
The warning includes the Northern Isles, Hebrides and parts of Argyll and Bute.
The Met Office said it was likely that frequent and heavy snow showers would disrupt travel.
In England, two amber health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The alerts, which warn of a rise in deaths particularly among elderly and vulnerable people, cover the North East and North West of England until 12:00 on 5 January.
Temperatures in these regions are expected to fall to around -4C, with snow predicted in the North West on 3 and 4 January.
Heavy snow and gale-force winds have been forecast for north and north-east Scotland at the start of the new year.
The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning from 06:00 on Thursday - New Year's Day - until midnight on Friday.
It said there could be up to two inches (5cm) of snow at low levels by Friday, with four inches (10cm) in some places.
Up to eight inches (20cm) of snow could accumulate on higher ground, with as much as 12 inches (30cm) on the hills. There is a warning of "significant" drifting of snow due to the high winds.
The warning includes the Northern Isles, Hebrides and parts of Argyll and Bute.
The Met Office said it was likely that frequent and heavy snow showers would disrupt travel.
In England, two amber health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The alerts, which warn of a rise in deaths particularly among elderly and vulnerable people, cover the North East and North West of England until 12:00 on 5 January.
Temperatures in these regions are expected to fall to around -4C, with snow predicted in the North West on 3 and 4 January.
