Urgent health warning to Vulnerable Brits as cold snap set to hit in days

A COLD weather alert has been issued to vulnerable Britons as temperatures are set to drop.

The UK Health Safety Agency has warned that this drop could have “serious health consequences” for the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions.

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The Met Office and UKHSA are warning all regions of England will experience cold weather from 6pm Sunday to 6pm Tuesday.

Medical professionals have encouraged people to stay warm and be mindful of those most at risk from the effects of cold weather.

A Level 2 alert has been activated, according to the Met Office, saying temperatures will fall below freezing.

Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of -2C in parts of Wales and south-west England on Monday morning.

Temperatures will also drop around -1C below freezing in most of the Midlands and Northern England.

Temperatures in Northern Ireland and central Scotland will be much warmer, reaching 5C or even 6C early.

dr Agostinho Sousa, Public Health Medicine Advisor at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have serious health consequences, with the elderly and those with heart or lung conditions being particularly at risk.

“It’s important to look after family, friends and loved ones who are more vulnerable to the cold weather.

“If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important that you try to heat your home to at least 18C if you can.”

Met Office experts said anticyclone will dominate weather in Britain from Sunday until early next week.

David Oliver, the Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster, said this will bring cold nights with widespread freezing across the country.

The Met Office guidance said: “Cold nights and possible frosts are still a possibility in the south, with cloudier conditions becoming more likely in northern areas.

“Long periods of clear overnight bring temperatures below freezing, with widespread freezing developing across England.

“Temperatures are likely to recover to near average for the time of year during the day, but drop quickly in the evening. Stay dry all the time. Currently there is low confidence in the longevity of Tuesday’s cold conditions.”

Although there is advice urging people to heat their homes, many cannot afford to due to the cost of living crisis.

If people are struggling, the UKHSA has advised they seek help from Simple Energy Advice, which offers free advice on energy efficiency and national grants to help you stay warm this winter.

The guidelines state that when people cannot heat all the rooms they use, it is important to heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before bedtime.

The last cold-weather health alert was issued on January 16th and has been extended to January 26th.