Heavy Snow and Cold Weather Warnings Issued Across UK as New Year Approaches
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for parts of Scotland from 6am on New Year’s Day to midnight on 2 January. Frequent heavy snow showers during this period may disrupt travel, especially in northern areas. Forecasts predict 2-5cm of snowfall by Friday morning, with 10cm in some local locations, 10-20cm above 200 metres, and 30cm or more on the highest routes.
Northern parts of the UK are expected to bear the brunt from 1 January, experiencing increasingly wintry showers and brisk winds as the week progresses. Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud noted that settled but chilly conditions are giving way to more showery and wintry hazards, particularly in the north.
Health alerts have also been issued. An amber cold health alert is in place for north-east and north-west England until noon on 5 January, with temperatures expected to fall to between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius. Health and social care services in these regions are likely to be significantly impacted, with hospitals and care homes facing risks from temperatures dropping below 18C and staffing difficulties due to travel delays. Additionally, transport and energy sectors could also be affected.
A yellow cold health alert covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, east of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London, indicating potential significant impacts. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) urges people to check on vulnerable individuals, especially those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing conditions, due to higher risks of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections during the cold period.
The Alzheimer’s Society highlights that dementia patients may struggle to adjust to the cold. They advise families and caregivers to ensure loved ones are kept warm, have adequate daylight exposure, maintain usual routines, and take care when moving in slippery conditions.
End-of-year forecasts estimate temperatures around 7-8 degrees Celsius for late 2025, turning colder as 2026 arrives, with temperatures averaging around 4-6 degrees Celsius from New Year’s Day.
