Weather latest: Amber cold health alert now issued for parts of UK until Saturday

Cold health alerts have been issued for large parts of the UK from midday on Monday until Saturday morning.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an amber cold health alert for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber on Monday.

A yellow cold health alert affects the rest of England.

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Multiple yellow weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office for parts of Scotland and northern England from Monday to Thursday.

Sub-zero temperatures are expected during the first cold snap of the year, as a spell of above-average temperatures comes to an end.

Temperatures dropped as low as minus 7C (19F) in Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands on Saturday, the UK's coldest night since March.

Arctic air heads southwards on Monday, the office said on its website, and by Wednesday, the whole of the UK will be under its spell.

Sky weather presenter Jo Wheeler said the UK and Ireland can expect "quite a dramatic change" and warned the expected cold snap, following a mild start to autumn, will feel "shocking".

She said the current yellow weather warnings for ice cover northern and eastern parts of the country over the next few days "with the potential for snow or wind warnings" later this week.

The potential impacts "would appear to be small and confined to northern and elevated areas familiar with such winter hazards".

An area of rain, sleet and snow will move across the country from Monday into Tuesday and stronger winds toward the end of the week will bring significant windchill, "making it feel much colder than temperatures would suggest.

Milder conditions should move in by the weekend, she said.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: "As Storm Claudia retreats to the south, high pressure to the North West will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK."

Mr Holley predicted "much colder conditions than of late and, whilst generally drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice".

Widespread frosts are likely across the UK, he said, with temperatures dipping "as low as minus 7C in places".

Single-figure daytime temperatures, coupled with a brisk northerly wind, will mean "a marked wind chill".

The Met Office's chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said rain expected over western Scotland on Tuesday morning could turn to snow as it moves inland.

He said details are sketchy, but "a period of snow is likely over high ground, with accumulations of 2-5cm (0.8-1.9 inches) possible above about 150m (492 feet) in elevation, and as much as 5-10cm (1.9-3.9 inches) above 400m (1312 feet)".

Mr Gundersen said "some disruption to travel and infrastructure across higher parts of Scotland" is possible and, by Wednesday, a "strong and very cold northerly flow" will make temperatures feel even colder.

Deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree warned that Wednesday to Friday "will be the coldest part of the week as overnight temperatures "could get down to minus 10C (14F)".

He predicted "a significant wind chill from the strong northerly wind, making things feel even colder.

"Wintry snow showers are expected to extend south through Wednesday and into Thursday, mainly affecting north-facing coastal areas."

Read more on Sky News:
How Claudia devastated Portugal
UK suffers flooding as storm hits

An amber warning means the weather is likely to cause "significant impacts across health and social care services" including an increase in demand for health services, temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks and a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has warned people with heart conditions to take extra care.

Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the foundation, said cold temperatures can "increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and people with cardiovascular disease are also more at risk of serious illness if they get seasonal respiratory infections like flu".

She advised anyone with such a condition to wrap up warm and have their free flu jab.

(c) Sky News 2025: Weather latest: Amber cold health alert now issued for parts of UK until Saturday