Amber cold health alert in force from UKHSA

An amber cold health alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is in force, the Met Office said on 18 November 2025, as cold Arctic air brought the first notable cold snap of the autumn¹. The Met Office said the alert "focuses specifically on impacts for health and social care in England"¹. The same day, the Met Office issued an amber warning for snow covering parts of Yorkshire on Thursday 20 November, brought forward to start at 0300 and valid to 2100¹.

The Met Office's chief forecaster, Neil Armstrong, said the coldest conditions were likely on Wednesday and Thursday, with wintry showers in Northern Ireland, southwest Wales, southwest England, northeast England, East Anglia and the northern half of Scotland¹. Accumulations of 2-5 cm were possible where showers were most frequent, with 15-20 cm on higher ground in Scotland and potentially 15-25 cm over the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds¹. Temperatures could fall to -10°C in rural parts of Scotland on Thursday night, with daytime temperatures generally in low single figures for many¹. Ice was described as an ongoing hazard, particularly overnight¹. A Met Office blog published on 19 November said yellow warnings for snow and ice were in place over the following couple of days, with heavier falls likely in northern Scotland and parts of northeast England².

Why it matters for households

The amber cold health alert concerns health and social care impacts in England, so households with older people, young children or people with long-term conditions are the focus of the official warnings¹. Dr Ron Cook, NHS 24 Executive Medical Director, said cold weather "can be particularly challenging for older people, young children, and those with long-term health conditions" and asked people to check on neighbours and loved ones to ensure they have what they need to stay warm and safe¹. He also said cold air can make breathing difficult for people with asthma or COPD, and advised keeping medication handy and limiting time outdoors during severe cold spells¹. The Met Office advises wearing sturdy footwear and allowing more time for journeys to help prevent slips and falls¹.

The Met Office's WeatherReady guidance covers preparing for power cuts with candles, matches, torches, batteries and a mobile phone power pack, and says to call 105 for information during a power cut, a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales². It advises against using a hob or oven to heat a home because this can increase carbon monoxide levels, and says to turn off electrical heaters and fires before bed to avoid fire risk². It also gives the British Red Cross Support Line number, 0808 196 3651, for those who need support². The Met Office's cold-weather health guidance sets out who is most at risk, and its explanation of UKHSA alert levels covers what yellow, amber and red cold-health alerts mean.

What happens next

The Met Office said updates to warnings were possible in the coming days and advised staying up to date with the latest forecast¹. It said conditions would be drier for many by Friday, with temperatures gradually turning milder and rain reaching the west later in the day, and that fronts of rain could cross from west to east on Saturday, with potentially further wet and windy weather for many on Sunday¹.