AMBER cold-health alerts have been issued for parts of the country with temperatures set to plummet as the New Year approaches.
Sub-zero temperatures are expected to grip some parts of the country with lows of -4C putting the elderly and vulnerable people at risk.
North-east and north-west England are being placed under amber weather warnings from 8pm today until midday on Monday, January 5.
All other regions in England will be under a yellow alert for the same period.
With sub-zero temperatures expected to roll in over the coming days the UKHSA warned that there is likely to be an increased use of health care services by vulnerable people.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA said: “As the cold weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing conditions.”
The cold weather is likely to bring some snowfall in January with wintry showers being blown in by cold northerly winds later in the week.
Patches of freezing fog are also likely to crop up across the Central Belt this evening and later tonight the Met Office said.
Some parts of northern Scotland are set to experience temperatures as low as -6C.
There could be some travel disruption as frost and fog create “tricky travelling conditions” on Monday morning, the forecaster said.
Inland areas across central and southern Britain will remain mostly dry but cold in the coming week.
The Met Office said this evening and tonight the country will see dry and settled weather while tomorrow will be a cloudy day.
Some patches of drizzle are expected to fall as temperatures continue to drop.
As the week draws to a close temperatures in the North East and North West will feel colder due to the wind chill.
A temperature of -4C could feel more like -8C, the Met Office said.
Yellow cold health alerts lasting from 8pm today until midday on Monday, January 5 will cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
Temperatures in the affected regions will reach highs of just 6C.
Over New Year’s Day they will drop to well below freezing as revellers bring in 2026.
Met Office 5 day weather forecast
This Evening and Tonight:
Dry and settled overnight but cloudy for most. A few breaks for Northern Ireland and southern England, with more prolonged clear spells across Scotland with a widespread frost developing. Areas of freezing fog likely by dawn across the Central Belt.
Monday:
Monday will be another largely cloudy day, though a few sunny spells may break through for Scotland and northern England. Mostly dry, with patchy drizzle with the thickest cloud.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:
Settled though rather cloudy through the week, with light drizzle breaking out in places. Colder later in the week with brisk northwesterly winds bringing increasingly wintry showers to the north.
