NHS England issued a Level 2 cold weather alert, "alert and readiness", for parts of England on 21 January 2022, stating there is a 70% probability of severe cold weather between 9am on Friday 21 January and 9am on Wednesday 26 January1. The alert was issued at 8.49am on Friday 21 January, according to the notice1.
The notice said the weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services1. It directed readers to the Met Office website for more details of the alert1.
The Level 2 notice followed a run of alerts through January. A Level 3 "cold weather action" alert issued at 9.00am on Monday 3 January gave a 90% probability of severe cold weather, icy conditions or heavy snow between midnight on Tuesday 4 January and midday on Thursday 6 January2. A further Level 3 alert, issued at 8.30am on Thursday 6 January, covered 9am on Thursday 6 January to 9am on Monday 10 January3. A Level 2 alert issued at 8.55am on Tuesday 11 January covered 6pm on Thursday 13 January to 9am on Monday 17 January4, and this was raised to Level 3 in notices issued at 8.56am on Thursday 13 January5 and 9.05am on Friday 14 January6. A Level 2 alert issued at 9.00am on Tuesday 18 January covered 6.00pm on Wednesday 19 January to 9.00am on Sunday 23 January7.
| Date issued | Alert level | Period covered | Probability stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January, 9.00am | Level 3, cold weather action | Midnight Tuesday 4 January to midday Thursday 6 January | 90% of severe cold weather, icy conditions or heavy snow2 |
| 6 January, 8.30am | Level 3, cold weather action | 9am Thursday 6 January to 9am Monday 10 January | 90% of severe cold weather, icy conditions or heavy snow3 |
| 11 January, 8.55am | Level 2, alert and readiness | 6pm Thursday 13 January to 9am Monday 17 January | 70% of severe cold weather4 |
| 13 January, 8.56am | Level 3, cold weather action | 6pm Thursday 13 January to 9am Monday 17 January | 90% of severe cold weather5 |
| 14 January, 9.05am | Level 3, cold weather action | 6pm Thursday 13 January to 9am Monday 17 January | 90% of severe cold weather6 |
| 18 January, 9.00am | Level 2, alert and readiness | 6.00pm Wednesday 19 January to 9.00am Sunday 23 January | 70% of severe cold weather7 |
| 21 January, 8.49am | Level 2, alert and readiness | 9am Friday 21 January to 9am Wednesday 26 January | 70% of severe cold weather1 |
"There is a 70% probability of severe cold weather between 9am on Friday 21 January and 9am on Wednesday 26 January in parts of England."
Some of the notices carry an inconsistency in their issue lines: the Level 2 notices of 21 January1, 11 January4 and 18 January7 give the issue year as 2021, while their publication dates are in January 2022. The Level 3 notices of 3 January2, 6 January3, 13 January5 and 14 January6 give 2022.
The alerts do not name the regions affected beyond "parts of England", and no list of areas by region appears in the notices1.
Why it matters for households
The alert covers parts of England from 9am on Friday 21 January to 9am on Wednesday 26 January1. NHS England states that the weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services1. Its notices point readers to NHS guidance on staying well in winter and to the Met Office for the detail of the alert1. Our guide on staying well in cold weather sets out the health risks and who is most at risk, and the storms and snow hub covers wider winter disruption. Households wanting to know what councils do in severe weather, including bins, care and support, can read our guide to council help in severe weather.
What happens next
A Level 1 notice, "winter preparedness and action", issued at 8.46am on Monday 24 January, stated that temperatures and weather conditions were not expected to exceed Cold Weather Alert threshold criteria in any region from 9am on 24 January 2022 until further notice8.
Sources (8)
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 2, alert and readiness, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 3, cold weather action, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 3, cold weather action, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 2, alert and readiness, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 3, cold weather action, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 3, cold weather action, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 2, alert and readiness, england.nhs.uk
- NHS England » Cold weather alert: Level 1, winter preparedness and action, england.nhs.uk
Staying Well in Cold Weather
