North East, North West, and Yorkshire now under level 3 cold weather alert

As of Friday 3 March, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has updated the cold weather alert issued on Thursday 2 March.

The North East of England, North West of England and Yorkshire are now under a level 3 alert, while the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, the South East and the South West regions remain at level 2. The current alert is in place between 1am on Monday 6 March and midnight on Thursday 9 March.

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Thursday 2 March 2023
With low temperatures and wintry showers forecast across England from Monday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is encouraging people to stay warm and look out for those most at risk from the effects of cold weather.

The Met Office and UKHSA are warning that all regions of England will experience cold weather from 1am on Monday 6 March to midnight on Wednesday 8 March.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

During periods like this, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather, as it can have a serious impact on health.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18°C if you can.’
Chris Almond, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said:

Although we’ve moved into meteorological spring there will be a distinctly wintry feel to our weather next week. Very cold air will spread across the UK bringing snow showers even to sea level in the north on Monday and these snow showers could spread further south on Tuesday.

With freezing overnight temperatures and the risk of ice, it is likely weather warnings will be issued for Monday and Tuesday once the detail of potential impacts becomes clearer, so keep an eye on the Met Office forecast.
UKHSA has supplemented the cold weather plan for England with useful resources and advice on the risks of cold weather and tips for staying warm and well this winter.

For people struggling to afford heating bills, Simple Energy Advice provides free advice on energy efficiency and national grants that are available to help keep you warm this winter.

If people can’t heat all the rooms they use, it’s important to heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before going to sleep. Wearing several layers of thinner clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer. Having plenty of hot food and drinks is also effective for keeping warm.