This story has moved on: Yellow cold health alerts issued across England and Wales

Summarised from 7 outlets · 21 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 21:13 · Archive

After sharp overnight frosts with temperatures as low as minus 6.6C, the UK will see a milder Saturday before fresh cold health alerts come into force on Sunday.

The UK experienced its coldest autumn night on Friday, with temperatures dropping to minus 6.6C in Sennybridge, near Brecon in south Wales, and minus 6.5C in Shap, a village near Penrith in Cumbria. The Met Office said the nation is entering a colder phase of weather.

Saturday morning will see sharp, widespread frost across England and Wales. Lows in towns and cities are expected to reach minus 2 or minus 3C, but in rural areas could drop to minus 5C. Patches of freezing fog are forecast for southern and south-east England, creating particularly hazardous conditions as super-cooled water droplets can freeze on impact, turning pavements into ice rinks.

The UK Health Security Agency issued yellow cold health alerts for the West Midlands and north-west England from Thursday until 12:00 on Saturday. The alerts indicate the weather is likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services and greater risk to life for vulnerable people. Paul Coleman, a consultant in public health at the agency, urged people to check on friends, family and neighbours aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions.

After the frost and fog clear on Saturday morning, most of the UK should enjoy a bright, largely dry day with some sunshine. However, this will not last long. By Saturday afternoon and into the evening, heavy rain and showers will move in from the west, bringing patchy rain and brisk winds across the north and far west. There is potential for snow in north-west Scotland. Temperatures on Saturday will vary between 5C in Norwich and Manchester, and 11C in Plymouth.

Sunday will bring milder conditions, with most areas having a frost-free start and temperatures remaining above freezing in the morning. Early sunshine is forecast in the east and across the far north and west, but the day will turn cloudy and breezy with outbreaks of rain, some heavy. Mountain snow is possible in Scotland, and thunderstorms could affect parts of Wales and southern England.

Colder weather will return from Monday onwards. The UK Health Security Agency has issued further yellow cold health alerts for the North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber from 21:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Thursday. The Mirror reports that snow is forecast to move across England, Wales and Scotland from Monday night into Tuesday, with up to 5cm possible in some areas and around 15cm in hilly parts of central Scotland.

How it is being reported

• Milder weather coming before more cold health alerts take effectA short-lived milder spell is on the way for Sunday before more cold health alerts come into force.BBC News · 14 Nov, 16:31
• Met Office names five areas to face snow on Sunday amid -7C temperature changeThe Met Office's weather maps show where snow is set to fall on Sunday morning as wintry conditions hit the UK, with temperatures dropping as low as 1C in parts of the Scottish HighlandsThe Mirror · 14 Nov, 14:59
• New cold health alerts issued after milder conditions forecast for weekendIn place from Sunday evening, the alerts come after forecasters said Britons should enjoy a milder weekend before cold temperatures return on Monday.Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 14:52
• New cold health alerts issued after milder conditions forecast for weekendIn place from Sunday evening, the alerts come after forecasters said Britons should enjoy a milder weekend before cold temperatures return on Monday.Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 13:16
• Milder weekend forecast in UK as autumn freeze eases offMet Office says overnight frost to give way on Saturday to ‘fine day with some sunshine’ in most regions The UK should have a milder weekend as the unusual autumn freeze eases off, after cold health alerts were issued and temperatures plummeted overnight, forecasters have said. After frost on Saturday morning, most of the UK should enjoy a “fine day with some sunshine”, the Met Office said. However, it will not be blue skies for everyone, as torrential rain and showers are predicted to move in from the west, bringing patchy rain and strong winds across the north and far west of the UK.…Guardian World · 14 Nov, 13:10
• 'Risk to life' alert issued for three regions in England as temperatures to plungeIt is the second cold health alert this autumn, after a warning in the North West and West Midlands regions came into force on ThursdayThe Mirror · 14 Nov, 12:41
• Temperatures plunge to -6C in UK as new cold weather alert issuedYellow cold health alerts have been issued for large parts of the UK as temperatures drop below -6C in parts of the country.The Independent · 14 Nov, 12:22
• British Gas reveals minimum temperature to set heating when not home as Britons hit by freezing temperaturesFriday was one of the coldest nights of the season for many parts of the UKThe Independent · 14 Nov, 11:49
• Met Office maps show wall of snow hitting England and Wales in 18 areas - full listWeather maps show parts of the UK which will be hit by a 200-mile wall of snow on Tuesday as an Arctic blast causes a deep freezeThe Mirror · 14 Nov, 11:26
• Brits to enjoy milder weekend after cold snap and health alertHealth leaders have warned that low temperatures can lead to a spike in the use of health and care servicesThe Independent · 14 Nov, 10:35
• It's Great Brrrr-itain! Nation shivers as temperatures plunge towards -7C overnight before heavy frost todayTemperatures plunged overnight to their lowest this year as the nation enters a 'colder phase' of weather, the Met Office said.Daily Mail · 14 Nov, 10:14
• Freezing temperatures to ease as milder weather and some showers forecastCold health alerts were issued earlier this week for the West Midlands and the North West, and will remain in place until 12pm on Saturday.Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 09:32
• Exact temperature Cold Weather Payments triggered - £25 extra each weekTemperatures are expected to plummet to as low as -6C this weekend as Brits are urged to check in on vulnerable neighbours and family members.Daily Express · 14 Nov, 07:51
• Widespread frost and freezing fog forecast as cold health alerts continueIt's a weekend of two halves with a cold start on Saturday giving way to wetter and milder day on Sunday.BBC News · 14 Nov, 00:12
• Temperatures could plummet as low as minus 6C overnight during cold snapThe UK is set to experience another cold night on Friday with the Met Office predicting temperatures could fall as low as minus 6C in some areas.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 17:20
• Met Office weather maps show 20 counties face snow on Monday and Tuesday – listMet Office weather maps suggest snow could fall in parts of England, Wales and Scotland early next week, with some wintry showers also expected this weekendThe Mirror · 13 Nov, 15:14
• Mapped: Every UK region under cold weather health alertsFrost, cold winds and temperatures below freezing are forecast for the weekendThe Independent · 13 Nov, 11:36
• Arctic blast brings chance of snow to UK as temperatures plunge to -6C this weekendTemperatures could drop to -6C on Friday night ahead of more cold weather this weekendThe Independent · 13 Nov, 08:46
• Britain set for blizzard in days as experts name 47 areas to see snow - full listFreezing temperatures are forecast this weekend, but it looks like the adverse weather is set to continue into early next week as snow is expected to fall across 47 parts of BritainThe Mirror · 13 Nov, 05:41
• Met Office forecasts snow with 10 areas set to see wintry showers this weekend — see full listThe Met Office says snow is forecast this weekend, warning several areas in the north of Scotland are set to be affected by the wintry showers amid the cold snapThe Mirror · 12 Nov, 19:12
• UK weather maps show 8cm of snow and -6C as 26 counties face flurries – listSnow is expected over high ground in Scotland this week as temperatures drop below freezing, and weather models now suggest some flurries could reach England and Wales next weekThe Mirror · 12 Nov, 15:37

In this story: UK Health Security Agency · Met Office · West Midlands · North West England · Sennybridge · Shap · Scotland

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