Brits have been warned to stay safe after health officials highlighted that harsh tempertures across the UK could spark an "increased risk of mortality".
It comes as the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency issued three amber health alerts for northern England as temperatures are expected to plummet to a mere -8C. The warning has been put in place from tonight as experts stressed a string of "winter hazards" will start to appear in the forecast.
Dan Stroud, senior operational meteorologist at the agency, previously told The Mirror, that "frost, fog, sleet and snow" will present itself in different areas. In recent days, County Durham and Scotland have been hit with snow. Now, the UKHSA has stressed how the health and social care sector will be "significantly" hit for the next few days. An increased risk of fatalities is highlighted across the population, especially to those who are classed as vulnerable including over-65s. "But impacts may also be seen in younger age groups," officials said.
Hospitals and doctors' surgeries are "likely" to become further occupied in response to an increased demand, reports The Sun. Whilst temperatures in hospitals and care homes could drop below the suggested threshold. People could also be put at risk as staffing numbers could be impacted due to travel disruption and energy problems. The alerts come into effect from 6pm on November 28 to midday on December 5. It will cover the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber.
However, yellow alerts have also been announced over the same period but in the East and West Midlands. Officials said "minor impacts are probable". As for the East of England, London, the South East and South West, which fall under the green category, complications have been listed as "possible".
A UKHSA spokesperson commented: "Conditions across the UK are forecast to turn increasingly cold through the week, with overnight frosts becoming sharp and widespread, with only limited recovery of temperatures by day. A weather system is expected to bring rain into southern parts of the UK later this week, with the potential for hill snow on its northern flank.
"Snow to low levels across southern England is considered a low probability. Showers falling as a wintry mix in places, mainly across North Sea coastal areas and over high ground."