The Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) was first published by the UK Health Security Agency and the Centre for Climate and Health Security on 27 April 2023, replacing the previous Heatwave Plan for England and Cold Weather Plan for England1. The plan applies to England1.
The AWHP brings together and builds on the two earlier plans, and is underpinned by supporting evidence, guidance and support materials, and the Weather-Health Alerts for heat and cold, developed in partnership with the Met Office1. A joint statement on the plan and summer 2023 preparedness was developed with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, the Met Office and the Local Government Association, and is available on the NHS England website1.
"The Adverse Weather and Health Plan aims to protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather and to build community resilience."
The published page carries the main plan, an easy read version, a supporting evidence document and a user guide, with reference numbers GOV-20651, GOV-16177 and GOV-16013 respectively1. The page has been updated many times since first publication; the most recent update shown is 22 April 2026, and the page lists an Adverse Weather and Health Plan 2026 to 2027 and an annual report for 2024 to 2025 among its documents1.
Why it matters for households
The plan sets out how the public sector, independent and voluntary sectors, health and social care organisations and local communities work together on planning and response during adverse weather1. For households in England, it is the framework behind the heat and cold Weather-Health Alerts issued with the Met Office, which are the warnings that signal periods of weather that may affect health1. The plan's stated aim is to protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather and to build community resilience1. The page does not set out household-level actions; it describes arrangements for organisations and communities. Further detail on how services respond is set out in The Adverse Weather and Health Plan: How Services Respond, with wider context in the heatwaves and drought hub and the UK preparedness hub.
What happens next
The page records that the plan has been revised since 2023, with a 2026 to 2027 version added on 25 March 2026 and the 2023 to 2024 version removed on 12 December 2025 as superseded by the 2024 to 2025 annual report1. No further dated steps are given on the page beyond the 22 April 2026 update fixing a link to the user guide1.
Adverse Weather and Health Plan
