UKHSA issues amber cold-health alert for North England

An amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) is now in place for the North West and North East of England from 8pm on Sunday 28 December 2025 until midday on Monday 5 January 2026, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed. All other English regions are on a yellow alert for the same period. We’ve set out what those colours mean, who needs extra support and the simple steps you can take.

Amber means the effects of the cold are likely to be felt across the health service for an extended spell. UKHSA and the Met Office, who run the Weather-Health Alerting system together, use amber when there’s potential for everyone to be affected in some way, not just people already known to be vulnerable. It also signals that services and local partners may need to coordinate their response.

A yellow alert is a notch lower, but it still matters. It tells you that cold weather could cause problems for some people and increase pressure on NHS and care services, especially overnight and in early mornings. Think of yellow as a “pay attention and prepare” message rather than a reason to worry.

Who is most at risk? UKHSA highlights people aged 65 and over, anyone with long-term heart or lung conditions, and people sleeping rough. Cold stress can raise the chance of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections. Dr Agostinho Sousa at UKHSA has a straightforward request this week: check in on friends, family and neighbours who might struggle.

What can you do at home tonight and over New Year? Try to keep rooms you use most at a comfortable temperature, ideally around 18°C if you can. Layer clothing rather than relying on one heavy jumper, have warm food and drinks, and keep moving regularly to boost circulation. If you take regular medicines, make sure you have enough for the week and know how to get help if you feel unwell.

If you need to head out, plan for ice and limited daylight. Choose footwear with good grip, allow extra time for travel and carry a charged phone. The Met Office may add National Severe Weather Warnings for snow or ice at short notice; it’s worth checking forecasts each morning and evening before you set off.

For students and renters, a quick plan helps. If the heating fails, report it early and ask about portable heaters or temporary fixes. Many councils and community venues run warm spaces during cold snaps, and universities often open libraries for longer over the holidays-use them if you need to warm up or study safely.

If you care for someone, small routines reduce risk. Agree call times, make sure pathways are salted, and leave a flask by the bed for overnight. If you’re concerned about someone’s health, NHS 111 can advise when to manage at home and when to seek urgent care.

It’s easy to mix up two types of alerts. Weather-Health Alerts like this one focus on health impacts in England and help NHS and care teams prepare. The Met Office’s National Severe Weather Warning Service covers broader hazards across the UK-think snow, ice, wind and rain. Following both gives you the fuller picture.

This alert runs right through the New Year period, ending at midday on Monday 5 January 2026. Keep an eye on updates from UKHSA and the Met Office, build in a little extra time for daily routines and, most importantly, check on people who could do with a call or a hand. A few practical actions this week can make a real difference.