ARCTIC FREEZE

Britain is beginning 2026 with a brutal cold snap that has health and social care chiefs on high alert because of the deadly risks posed to the elderly and vulnerable.

Temperatures plunged to nearly –10C in Aberdeenshire overnight as people brought in the New Year.

Health chiefs and forecasters have issued warnings over harsh wintry conditions that might even feel colder than the icy waters of a New Year’s Day dip. 

The Met Office has issued additional weather warnings for snow and ice for parts of the country, which will see the mercury dip into negative temperatures early on Friday and Saturday.

The forecaster issued a yellow warning for snow and ice on Saturday that covered the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North East in addition to the warnings already in place for large portions of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

An amber warning for heavy snow showers – meaning disruption is more likely and widespread – has been issued for the Highlands north of Inverness, Moray and the entirety of Aberdeenshire, from 12 pm tomorrow until 12 pm Saturday.

Vehicles could become stranded with snow of up to 10-20cm at low levels and 40cm on high ground; motorists have been warned to prepare a winter kit with clothing, food, water, a blanket and a car charger should they be driving in impacted regions.

It’s the first amber alert since November, when one such warning was issued for the North East of England – and only the third in the last year. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded cold weather health alerts across England to ‘amber’ – amid concerns that the elderly and vulnerable are more at risk of succumbing to the severe conditions.

Previous ‘yellow’ alerts across the Midlands and South have been upgraded to amber – amid expectations that the piercing chill is expected to have a significant impact on health services for some time – alongside alerts in the North.

The agency says it expects a rise in deaths among those aged 65 or over and those with long-term health conditions.

Health chiefs also anticipate a ‘likely’ increase in demand for health services and that people will struggle to heat their homes to an ideal 18 degrees Celsius.

Hospitals may also struggle to keep temperatures at recommended levels – and could suffer staffing challenges due to disruption to transport. 

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: ‘The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days.

‘Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions.

‘It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.’

The amber alerts will be in place until 10 am on January 6.

Elsewhere, the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for ice and snow blanketing most of Wales, the West Midlands, the Cotswolds, London and Kent, swathes of the Scottish Highlands and islands and the totality of Northern Ireland tomorrow.

While rural regions risk being blocked off by snow or perhaps experiencing power outages, forecasters have warned of possible disruptions to the south’s roadways and railroads.

People are also being warned to take care on icy surfaces due to the risks of slips and falls as sleet and snow clear.

The alerts are in place until 10 am in Northern Ireland and 12 pm in England and Wales, but will last until the end of Sunday in Scotland. 

A spokesperson said: ‘This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public.

‘We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places.’

As Britain brought in the New Year last night, conditions dropped to –9.6 °C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, –6.9 °C in Yorkshire, –8.1 °C in Cumbria, –6.4 °C in Wales and –5.8 °C in Benson, Oxfordshire.

Today, chilly conditions are expected nationwide, with highs of 5 °C expected in Belfast, 7 °C in London, 6 °C in Manchester, 3 °C in Edinburgh and 8 °C in Cardiff. 

In a post on X on Wednesday, the Met Office said a ‘dip in the sea’ on January 1 could even feel ‘relatively mild compared to the wind chill that can be expected on land’. 

Snow up to 5cm deep could blanket some areas, especially on higher ground, in parts of North Wales and north–west England, according to forecasters.

Aberdeenshire and the Highlands are also predicted to get heavy snowfall tomorrow, with sleet in certain areas of Wales, the West Midlands, and London in the early morning.

Well, that will be winter then! And as for the really old folks that die in the winter months, well, Rachel Reeve’s will have their deaths on her grimy little hands. I really do hope she sleeps well at night.

However, as you watch the weather forecast, the experts are telling us to close all the windows and put on an additional layer. Thank goodness I watched it, I wouldn’t have a clue otherwise! This country of ours is pathetic.

Arctic conditions, temperatures plummeting, same old same old headlines. It is winter, for God’s sake, but let’s hope it doesn’t freeze the English Channel, then all the migrants will be able to walk over instead – they could slide or skate, I guess.

When I was a child, winters were much worse, but it was winter, and it was cold, extremely cold, but not everything ground to a halt, and we went to work, and school come rain, wind or snow. Now, if it rains, or there’s wind or snow, everybody has a nervous breakdown.