Cold weather alert issued

Cold weather alert issued

Warnings have been issued across northern England after the Met Office forecast a spell of
cold weather.

Today (11 December) the forecaster has issued a Level 2 cold weather alert across the North West - this means there is a forecast in which there is at least a 60 per cent chance of severe weather, with average temperatures to drop to 2C or below within the next 48 hours.

Because of that Dr Angie Bone of Public Health England is reminding people to look out for
others, to keep warm indoors and to take care when walking on icy or wet surfaces when out and about.

Yolanda Clewlow, Health Services Manager at the Met Office said: “As a low pressure system
passes across the UK colder air is being dragged down from the north, some areas may see
snow or wintery showers early on Friday morning and there will be a few days of low daytime temperatures and frosty nights for Yorkshire and Humber, the North East and the North West.

“This has triggered the first Level 2 cold weather alert of the winter which is valid between
00.10am Friday and 6am Sunday morning.”

Dr Angie Bone of the Extreme Events team at Public Health England said: “Cold does kill,
even in places where the temperatures aren’t at their lowest. Most of our advice on keeping
warm in cold weather may seem like common sense, but it’s important that we make the
point that people should think about how cold can affect them.

“Our advice is that when indoors, have plenty of warm food and drinks to stay warm and try
to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long
term illness or are 65 or over.

"If you need to go out wear lots of thin layers and wear shoes with a good, slip-resistant grip to prevent any accidental falls.

“This is also a good time to think about how the bad weather may affect your friends and family, particularly if they are older or very young or have pre-existing health conditions.

"These groups can be particularly vulnerable to the ill-effects of cold so think now what you could to help.”

The Cold Weather Plan for England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-plan-for-england

...sets out a series of actions that health and social care organisations, voluntary and community groups, and individuals can take and plan for cold temperatures to help reduce cold-related illnesses and deaths.