Britons are poised to endure frigid conditions as the nation welcomes the new year, with an amber health alert issued across portions of the UK.
Weather experts suggest the conclusion of 2025 won't be "particularly fantastic", with temperatures hovering around 7-8C, though conditions will deteriorate as 2026 begins. Northern regions of the country are anticipated to experience the harshest of the colder weather from New Year's Day onwards.
Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud explained: "We're losing this sort of settled but chilly conditions, and bringing in something a little bit more showery with more wintry hazards in the forecast, particularly for the north of the country."
An amber cold health alert has been declared for the North East and North West of England from 8pm on Sunday to 12pm on January 5. Temperatures across these areas are predicted to drop to approximately 3-5C.
The UKHSA has warned the conditions are "likely" to trigger substantial impacts across health and social care services, including a "rise in deaths" amongst those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
The organisation stated the UK may also witness "impacts on younger people" and predicted there will probably be an "increase in demand for health services" throughout the regions.
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Additional consequences include "temperatures inside places like hospitals and care homes dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks" and "challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C leading to more risk to vulnerable people", the UKHSA warned. The organisation also cautioned about potential staffing problems caused by external circumstances including travel disruptions, noting that other industries such as transport and energy might begin experiencing effects.
The agency has additionally issued a yellow cold health alert covering the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
Temperatures are anticipated to drop to approximately 4-6C from New Year's Day across regions where the yellow health alert has been implemented.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: "As the colder 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 health conditions."