Ice warning issued for 23 areas of northern UK as cold health alert starts

The Met Office has issued a yellow ice warning for 23 areas across Scotland and northern England as an Arctic blast moves south, according to the Mirror. Separately, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has a yellow cold health alert starting at 9pm on Sunday, the Evening Standard and Metro reported.

The warning for ice runs until 10am on Monday, with disruptive snow and ice possible on Sunday night and into Monday morning.

Where is the ice warning in force?

The Mirror said the warning covers most of Scotland and a large swathe of northern England. Areas listed include Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, plus Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria in England.

The Met Office said an area of rain and hill snow will clear to the southeast overnight, letting skies clear and temperatures fall below freezing. That could leave icy stretches on untreated surfaces and difficult driving conditions. Ice is not expected to develop in northern England and southeast Scotland until the end of the night.

How much snow could there be?

Ethan Douglas, an operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said the snow risk is limited to Scottish hills, where it could make driving difficult. The ice risk may be more widespread across the north of the UK, causing longer journey times and potentially hazardous conditions, he said.

In northern Scotland, wintry showers could bring snow to low levels for a time, the Met Office said. It expects no more than 1-2 cm at lower levels and perhaps 4 or 5 cm on higher ground.

What is the cold health alert?

The UKHSA alert, rated yellow, means a minor impact on health and social care services is likely, Metro reported. It covers North East England, North West England, and Yorkshire and the Humber, and could mean more use of healthcare services and a greater risk to life for vulnerable people.

Reports differ on when it ends. The Evening Standard said it runs until 9am on Thursday, while Metro said 9pm on Thursday.

What this means for people

Paul Coleman, a consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said cold weather can seriously affect some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions. He urged people to check on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable, to heat the rooms they use most if possible and to dress warmly in colder spells. He added that this is the latest cold health alert of the season and more can be expected as winter goes on.

For drivers, the Met Office warned of longer journeys and hazardous travelling conditions on Sunday night and Monday morning, especially in the north.

What is the forecast for the rest of the week?

The Met Office said cold conditions will continue on Monday, with long sunny intervals for most, though cloud will thicken later. Wintry showers are likely in north-east Scotland. Heavy rain is expected on Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

BBC forecaster Helen Willetts said a weather system running south of the UK on Tuesday could bring a spell of snow when it meets the cold air, mainly on hills but possibly at lower levels. She stressed that it is still a long way off and could shift north or south.

The UK has already seen a cold snap, with temperatures falling to -6.4C in Cumbria and Brecon last Thursday, the Mirror reported.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by Evening Standard, Mirror, Metro

Cover photo: Andrew Tryon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped