The Met Office have warned of unsettled and wintry conditions as we head into the New Year, with a snow and ice warning issued and more likely to come.
In conjunction with the Met Office, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold health alert across Yorkshire, which lasts until noon on 5th January 2026.
Temperatures are forecasts to fall to as low as -4 degrees Celsius overnight in Ilkley over the coming days and only just above 0 degrees Celsius during the day.
The yellow alert warns of potential for significant impacts across health and social care services, including: a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, a likely increase in demand for health services and impacts on the workforce affecting delivery of services.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said:
“It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the New Year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.
“Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.
“A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption.
“These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the New Year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely. It looks like this cold spell will last through at least the first week of January, so it’s important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.”
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
“As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“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.”
With freezing temperatures and the potential for snow and ice, the Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign offers practical advice to help you prepare your home, garden, and daily routines for winter weather.
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