Yellow cold health alerts cover the West Midlands and north-west England as overnight temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing across much of the UK.
Northerly winds are sweeping across the UK, bringing cold air from the Arctic and some of the most widespread low temperatures of the autumn so far. Yellow cold health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have come into force, covering the West Midlands and north-west England. The alerts, issued by the UKHSA in association with the Met Office, are valid from now until 12:00 on Saturday.
Thursday afternoon's highs will remain in single digits for most, with afternoon highs expected to range from 6 to 10C. Overnight lows will widely fall below freezing, potentially dropping to -7C. Strong winds will bring a significant wind chill, especially on northern and eastern coasts, so it will feel colder than the reading on the thermometer would suggest.
The strongest winds will be in north-east Scotland where gusts will touch 50-60mph for a time. Blustery conditions will also affect the east coast of England and it will remain breezy elsewhere. Showers will be blown into northern Scotland, falling as a mix of rain, sleet and hail, with a little snow possible over high ground. Scattered showers will also affect Northern Ireland as well as northern and eastern England, although the majority of these will be of rain.
Thursday night will be one of the most widely cold of autumn so far, with temperatures forecast to drop below freezing in many areas. As well as a widespread frost, a few icy stretches are possible, especially in northern Scotland. Friday will bring more sunshine for many and generally lighter winds, although parts of northern Scotland will remain blustery. Showers are most likely in Northern Ireland, Wales, north-west England and Scotland, where cloud amounts will tend to increase during the afternoon.
The yellow alerts warn of minor impacts on the health and social care sector, with increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, who face a greater risk to life. The first cold health alerts of the season cover the West Midlands and north-west England.
Friday night will deliver another frost for many areas, and the weekend will stay generally chilly, although temperatures will gradually start to climb by a degree or two in both the day and night, as southerly winds develop. Morning fog will become more of a feature again by Sunday morning, and as high pressure starts to give way to low pressure and frontal systems, chances of rain will increase. Next week looks more unsettled with stronger winds and rain at times. Temperatures will, generally, be a little higher, but incursions of cold air could continue to bring some wintry weather over Scottish mountains.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
WorldTrending
A driver in his forties died after a collision between two SUVs on Route 365 in Pont-Rouge, Quebec, shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday, according to the Sûreté du Québec.
The Trump administration says it returned more than $12 billion in revenue from Venezuelan oil sales since ousting Nicolás Maduro in January, according to a State Department report.
