Publish date: 19 January 2023
There is a cold weather alert in place from 9am on Wednesday 18 January and 9am Monday 23 January in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Please refer to Mersey Care’s Cold Weather Plan for guidance and appropriate preventive action if required.
Cold air continues to affect the country and is expected to remain through the rest of the working week and much of, if not all the way through the weekend. This brings widespread overnight frosts with some freezing fog and daytime temperatures struggling to recover much above freezing, especially in the north. Brisk winds, along with spells of wintry showers are also possible, mainly until Friday, with icy conditions developing as a result. These mostly likely where the brisk north to northwesterly winds bring coastal showers inland. As previously discussed, there remains uncertainty as to the longevity of the cold conditions across the west, with temperatures potentially recovering over the weekend. This a result of a slow-moving frontal system bringing milder conditions, though this could stall to retain the colder conditions, especially in the east into next week.
Advice: Look out for friends and family who may be vulnerable to the cold, and ensure they have access to warm food and drinks and are managing to heat their homes adequately. Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18°C, particularly if you are not mobile, have a long-term illness or are 65 or over. Avoid exposing yourself to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you are at a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls and stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts on the Met Office website.
If you want more information about how cold weather can affect your health please visit NHS website.
If you are concerned about your health or somebody you care for, advice can be obtained from NHS 111 or your local pharmacist.
Related pages:
Links
- How to stay well in winter - NHS
- ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ leaflet - GOV.UK
- Cold weather plan for England - GOV.UK
- Energy Saving Trust
- Age UK
- National Energy Action
A range of free resources from the Weather Ready campaign can be downloaded.