Cold health alert issued for East Midlands as temperatures set to plummet

 A warning has been issued that temperatures are once again expected to plummet, with a new four-day cold health alert issued for the East Midlands.

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow alert, which comes into effect from 6pm tomorrow (Friday), January 17, and is valid until 9am on Monday, January 21.

The UKHSA has warned of an “increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people” and a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people”.

The Met Office forecast suggests temperatures expected to plummet again with severe frosts possible overnight from January 17.

The weather agency has also warned that freezing fog could be an additional hazard on January 19 and 20.

The Met Office forecast for Saturday, January 18, until Monday, January 20, reads: “Mostly dry but largely cloudy, although some overnight fog patches are possible. Maybe some light rain on Monday. Perhaps brighter later Monday. Turning colder.”

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 warning also states that some hospitals and healthcare settings may struggle to keep buildings above the recommended minimum of 18C.