Nepal UK
London- The Met Office has issued warning that heavy snow is set to fall on parts of the UK on New Year’s Day as millions of pensioners are warned to prepare themselves for freezing temperatures.
A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for parts of the UK from 6am on New Year’s Day until midnight on January 2.
It comes as an amber cold health alert has been issued for the north east and north west of England which is due to remain in place until noon on January 5, with temperatures expected to fall to 3-5C.
By Friday morning, the Met Office is predicting 2-5cm of snow, with 10cm in certain local areas and 10-20cm in some areas above 200m.
On the highest routes and hills, 30cm or more may build through the period, the forecaster added.
Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the amber alert, and said it means the weather is “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
Temperatures elsewhere are expected to be 4-6C from New Year’s Day and there is a yellow health alert in place.
The Met Office said the final days of 2025 will not be “particularly fantastic”, with temperatures of 7-8C, but things will take a turn as 2026 arrives.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the new year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.
“Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.
“A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption.
The UKHSA said the UK may also see “impacts on younger people” and there will likely be an “increase in demand for health services” across the regions.
Other impacts include “temperatures inside places like hospitals and care homes dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks”, and “challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C leading to more risk to vulnerable people”, the UKHSA said.
It also warned of staffing issues due to external factors such as travel delays, and said other sectors, such as transport and energy, could start to see the impacts.
