It comes after much of the UK was issued with separate cold health alerts last week
Met Office cold health alert from UKHSA(Image: Met Office)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold health alert for most of England as the February cold snap continues. Regions affected include the East Midlands, East of England, North East, North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber and the South West.
All alerts came into place at 6pm on Tuesday, February 17 and will remain in place until 6pm on Friday February 20. The alerting system provides an early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. The weather health alerting system is provided by the UKHSA in partnership with the Met Office.
According to the UKHSA: “It’s intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.”
In the risk description provided by the health officials for areas under a yellow alert, it said: “Forecast weather is likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and greater risk to life of vulnerable people.”
Much of the UK was issued with separate cold health alerts last week. The alerts came as an “Arctic maritime air mass” gradually introduced colder conditions. The Met Office advises: “You should be prepared for weather warnings to change: when a weather warning is issued, stay up to date with the weather forecast in your area.”
Met Office cold health alert from UKHSA(Image: Met Office)
Three yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office today for rain and snow. One for rain covers parts of London and South East England, and South West England. The weather agency said: “Spells of heavy rain could lead to some flooding and disruption to travel during Wednesday and Thursday.”
Parts of South West England, Wales and West Midlands are under a yellow warning for snow, active from 4pm this afternoon. The Met Office said: “A period of snow could bring some disruption to parts of Wales and central England later Wednesday and overnight into Thursday.”
Another yellow warning for snow and rain, covers Northern Ireland. Forecasters said: “Outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong winds may bring some disruption to travel during Wednesday.” All warnings issued are currently set to be lifted before Friday February 20.
Cold weather payments have been paid to nearly 1.5 million households across England and Wales so far this winter, the Government has said. The £25 payments go to low-income households to help them with their bills.
Cold weather payments are made automatically when temperatures drop to 0C or below for seven consecutive days. People receiving pension credit automatically qualify for the payments, but some households receiving other support may also be eligible if they meet additional criteria.
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