The Met Office has now covered all of England in yellow and amber cold alerts with five regions set to cop the brunt of a snow deluge. In its alert, it says severe impacts are “probable” with a spotlight on the over 65s.
It says in full: “Significant impacts are probable across the health and social care sector due to forecast weather conditions, including: observed increase in mortality across the population, particularly in the 65+ age group or those with certain underlying health conditions.
An amber alert swamps the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire Highlands until December 5 at midday. A yellow alert for the east and south east of England and London for the same period.
“But impacts may also be seen in younger age groups,” it adds. “Increased demand for remote health care services likely; internal temperatures in care settings (e.g. hospitals, care homes and primary care settings).
It says care homes and hospitals may fall under the temperature threshold, and that all health care establishments should maintain an 18C thermometer reading.
The alert continues: “This may become challenging for some, leading to increased risk of vulnerable people; staffing issues due to external factors (e.g. travel delays); other sectors may start to observe impacts (e.g. transport and energy).”
A daily risk assessment based on the mercury is carried out by the government’s UKHSA and the Met Office.
These alerts are different from weather warnings as they focus on the impacts either extreme heat or cold could impact the more vulnerable members of society. The alert’s overview does, however, talk about how already-frost biting temperatures could plunge further this weekend.
It says: “Conditions across the UK are forecast to turn increasingly cold toward the weekend and into early next week. Overnight frosts will be sharp and widespread with only limited recovery in temperatures by day.
“Current Met Office snow and ice warnings have been issued in the south west on Thursday and eastern England on Thursday and Friday.” It says there is some uncertainty over the longevity of the cold snap, which means these alerts could be extended again next week if the mercury doesn’t recover.
Weather maps show today currently hailing the start of the intense freeze, with north eastern towns and cities contending with highs of just -2C.In the south east, there isn’t much improvement with London seeing highs of between 1C and 3C.
This pattern will continue into tonight and tomorrow thanks to a Polar blast from the east and an Atlantic front clashing, turning any rain into snow in the coldest areas.
By 9am tomorrow morning, Edinburgh will be shuddering in -3C, along with parts of Wales and the Midlands feeling the ice at -2C. But Saturday looks set to be coldest, with temperatures barely recovering and even plunging to -5C in some places.
On Sunday there will be a very slight improvement for all regions apart from those in Wales where a sub-zero overnight patch will render it cold enough for widespread snow.
