UK issues cold-weather health alert for three regions

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow cold-health alert for three regions of England, warning that falling temperatures could pose health risks to elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions.

The alert covers the North West of England, North East of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber, and will run from 9pm on Sunday, November 15, until 9am on Thursday, November 19.

The agency disclosed this in an update published on Saturday, as part of its cold-health alerts for the 2026/2027 winter season.

It said other regions of England were currently unaffected by the alert.

According to the UKHSA, yellow cold-health alerts may be issued during periods of cold or heat that are unlikely to affect most people but could have an impact on particularly vulnerable groups.

The agency warned that low temperatures could lead to increased use of healthcare services and raise health risks for people aged 65 and above, those with pre-existing conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and other vulnerable groups, such as people sleeping rough.

Commenting on the alert, a Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, Paul Coleman, said more cold-health alerts could be expected as winter progressed.

“This is the latest cold-health alert of the season, and we can expect more as we move further into winter,” he said.

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“Cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable,” Coleman added.

He urged residents to take simple precautions to remain warm and protect their health during the cold spell.

“We’re also reminding people to take simple steps to stay warm and look after their health. If you can, try to heat the rooms you spend most of your time in, such as your living room or bedroom, and dress warmly to help you stay safe and well during colder weather,” he said.

The UKHSA and the Met Office operate the Weather Health Alerting system, which provides warnings about weather conditions that could affect people’s health.

The agency has also published guidance for healthcare professionals and members of the public on protecting vulnerable people during periods of cold weather.

The latest alert follows the first cold-health alert of the 2026/27 winter season, issued by the UKHSA on November 10 for the North West and West Midlands regions. That alert ran from 9am on November 12 until noon on November 14. The agency said at the time that more alerts could be expected as winter progressed, warning that cold weather could seriously affect people aged 65 and over, those with pre-existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups.