England's first cold-health alert of the 2026/27 winter has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). According to the agency, the yellow alert covers the North West and West Midlands. It starts at 9am on Thursday 12 November and ends at 12pm on Saturday 14 November. UKHSA said no other English regions are currently affected.
Who is at risk
UKHSA said cold can push up demand for health services among vulnerable people. It also raises health risks for those aged 65 and over, people with existing conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and groups such as rough sleepers.
Dr Anya Gopfert, a Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, said more cold-health alerts can be expected as the season goes on. She called it vital to look in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable, and recommended heating homes where possible and dressing warmly.
What a yellow alert means
The Weather Health alerting system is run by UKHSA together with the Met Office. Under it, a yellow alert can be issued for heat or cold that most people would be unlikely to notice but that could affect particularly vulnerable individuals. UKHSA labels this level "response" and says action is essential in health and social care settings.
An amber alert is the next level. UKHSA describes it as a situation where the effects would reach the entire health service and the whole population could be at risk. At red, the agency says there is a significant risk to life even for healthy people.
How the alerts differ from weather warnings
UKHSA explains that its alerts concentrate on the health consequences of weather and are intended chiefly for health and social care professionals and those who respond to emergencies. The Met Office runs a separate service, the National Severe Weather Warning Service, which deals with hazards such as flooding or storms for audiences across the UK. According to UKHSA, that service does not issue warnings specific to cold temperatures. UKHSA instead weighs cold explicitly, alongside other factors, in a risk assessment carried out with the Met Office.
The health alerts apply to England only, since the matter is a devolved responsibility in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. UKHSA says the core cold-alerting season runs from 1 November to 31 March, and it has published guidance for professionals and the public on staying safe in cold weather.
