AN amber cold health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, warning of a potential “rise in deaths” across Somerset due to dropping temperatures.
According to the Met Office, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Weather-Health Alert system is aimed at health and social care professionals and anyone with a role in reducing health impacts caused by extended periods of hot or cold weather.
For individuals receiving the service, it also “provides situational awareness if health and well-being is at risk, allowing precautions to be taken.”
The Met Office added that an amber alert represents “a situation in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.”
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Together with the @metoffice, UKHSA have issued a yellow cold-health alert for the South West of England, from Sunday, December 28 at 20:00 to Monday, January 05 at 12:00.
Don’t get stranded in cold weather 🥶🌨️ pic.twitter.com/mNzpwnkPNG— UKHSA South West (@UKHSA_SouthWest) December 28, 2025
The amber alert for the South West was put in place on Sunday, December 28, at 8pm and will remain in place until January 5, 2026, at 12pm.
According to the risk description, forecast weather is likely to have a medium impact, including a likelihood “to cause significant impacts across health and social care services”.
This includes “a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.” The alert also states that there may be impacts on younger age groups.
The alert also warns of a “likely increase in demand for health services”, temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks, challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18 degrees, leading “to more risk to vulnerable people”, staffing issues due to external factors such as travel delays and other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy).
Dr Elizabeth Smout, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West, said: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days, and it is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable, particularly here in the South West.
“The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat the rooms where you spend most of your time, such as your living room or bedroom in the coming days.”
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