An amber health alert has been warned amid plunging temperatures with the mercury set to dramatically plummet. The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there is an “increased risk of mortality” across the population, particularly in vulnerable groups.
The amber alerts, which are in force from 6pm on November 28 to midday on December 5, cover the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber. On its website, the Met Office explains: “An amber alert would represent a situation in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required. “
A UKHSA spokesperson said: “Conditions across the UK are forecast to turn increasingly cold through the week, with overnight frosts becoming sharp and widespread, with only limited recovery of temperatures by day. A weather system is expected to bring rain into southern parts of the UK later this week, with the potential for hill snow on its northern flank.
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“Snow to low levels across southern England is considered a low probability. Showers falling as a wintry mix in places, mainly across North Sea coastal areas and over high ground.” Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “There has been some uncertainty in the atmospheric weather patterns for the coming days, however, confidence in the forecast is improving and there is a reducing chance of snow for southern areas of the UK, although there is still a chance we may see some sleety wintry showers over higher ground in areas such as Dartmoor or Exmoor.
“Northern and northeastern areas of the UK in the moist north / northeasterly airflow continue to see a chance of snow or sleet and yellow snow and ice National Severe Weather Warnings have been issued.” The UKHSA has issued yellow and amber cold-health alerts for the health sector covering northern regions of England through until the 5 December.