New 63-hour cold health alert issued for East Midlands as warning issued over impact on NHS

A fresh cold health alert has been issued for the East Midlands with a warning the weather could once again pose a risk to vulnerable people. Heavy snow caused disruption across the area overnight on Monday, November 18 and led to school and road closures on Tuesday, November 18.

Now, the UK Health Security Agency has issued a fresh cold health alert for the region, warning of the impact on health and social care services. It is valid from 6pm on Tuesday, November 26 until 9am on Friday, November 29.

A UKHSA spokesperson said: "Forecast weather is likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including [an] increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and [a] greater risk to life of vulnerable people."

While there is no snow in the forecast, it is expected to be bitterly cold once again. The Met Office forecast shows overnight lows of 1C on Tuesday (November 26), 0C on Wednesday (November 27) and 2C on Thursday (November 28).

Forecasters warned of frost and added that temperatures are expected to be lower in rural spots. Temperatures should rise on Friday and over the weekend, dropping no lower than 7C overnight.

Cold health alerts are issued between November 1 and March 31. The UKHSA says that this week's forecast weather is likely to have impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and greater risk to life of vulnerable people.

The UKHSA added: "Temperatures cooler through Monday than the mild weekend, with a patchy frost forming overnight away from S/E England. Becoming settled for most through Tuesday with daytime temperatures near, or just below average for November.

"Overnight frosts and fog becoming likely for central and northern England on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with low temperature thresholds likely to be breached across NW, NE, Y&H. Areas further south are likely to remain above these thresholds as further cloud and rain pushes eastwards across southern England, although there is some uncertainty regarding northern parts of WM and EM.

"Uncertainty also exists regarding Thursday night as cloudier conditions and southerly winds advance from the west, but northern and eastern areas at risk of experiencing another cold night. Temperatures are set to rise again through Friday, as a southerly flow continues to develop, bringing temperatures in northern areas back above low-impact thresholds."