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.
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The freezing conditions could lead to travel chaos
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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.
There is also a heightened risk to life, the Met Office said
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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.”
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