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Britons are urged to prepare for a chilly start to the New Year due to a spate of cold spells weather Alert has been issued.
Yellow health warning is in place northeast and northwest From Sunday 8pm to January 5, 2026 at 12pm. Temperatures are expected to drop to around 3 to 5C in these areas during the day, but could be close to -3C at night, with temperatures approaching -7C in parts of Scotland.
“Winter showers” are expected to hit northern England from New Year’s Day, bringing a windy and cold start to 2026.
Dan Stroud of the Met Office said: “We are losing this stable but cold weather, with more showers and more winter hazards expected, particularly in the north of the country.”
Forecasters say the final days of 2025 won’t be “particularly nice” with temperatures reaching 7 to 8 degrees Celsius, but that will change as 2026 begins.
There are currently no weather warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. The cold health alert issued by the UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) means the weather is “likely” to have a significant impact on health and social care services, including an “increased number of deaths” among people with existing health conditions or those aged over 65.
The UKHSA said the UK was also likely to see “an impact on younger people”, adding that “demand for health services is likely to increase” across regions.
UKHSA said other impacts include “temperatures within settings such as hospitals and care homes falling below recommended levels to assess health risks” and “challenges in maintaining indoor temperatures at the recommended 18 degrees Celsius resulting in vulnerable groups being at greater risk”.
It also warned that external factors such as travel delays could lead to staffing issues and said other sectors such as transport and energy could start to see the impact.
The agency has also issued a yellow cold health alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and Humber and London.
Temperatures in areas with yellow health alerts are expected to drop to around 4 to 6 degrees Celsius starting from New Year’s Day.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, UKHSA’s head of extreme events and health protection, said: “As the weather turns colder, it’s vital we understand our most vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.
“Forecast temperatures could have serious health consequences for some people, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and chest infections, particularly for people over 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”