North East and North West residents have been placed under an amber cold‑health alert from 20:00 GMT on Sunday 28 December 2025 until 12:00 on Monday 5 January 2026. UKHSA says the cold will raise risks for older people and those with heart and lung conditions, while the rest of England moves to a yellow alert.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, who leads extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged people to look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives. He warned the forecast temperatures can have a “serious impact”, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections in those most at risk.

An amber alert signals that the cold is likely to be felt across health and social care, with some risk to the wider public, while yellow alerts focus on heightened risk for vulnerable groups. UKHSA also flags that transport and energy networks can begin to feel the strain at this level.

The Met Office expects cloudy nights with patches of frost and fog, bringing “tricky travelling conditions” on Monday morning. Forecasts point to around −1C overnight in Penrith and −6C to −7C in northern Scotland, with a brisk northerly breeze along parts of the North East coast.

Cold indoors is a danger too. UKHSA says temperatures in hospitals and care homes can dip below recommended thresholds, and many households will struggle to keep rooms at the advised 18C-raising illness risk and feeding pressure on the NHS.

Staffing problems are also possible as travel delays ripple through the system during the cold spell, adding to pressure on frontline teams already deep into winter.

For households across the North, the advice remains practical: heat the rooms you use most to at least 18C, layer up, and check on neighbours who might be at risk. The Met Office’s WeatherReady guidance also highlights simple checks to prepare homes and vehicles for icy spells.

In recent days, weather and health alerts on Christmas Day prompted organisers in several areas to cancel festive swims on safety grounds. With colder nights ahead, officials say to keep plans flexible and check for updates before travelling.