Experts are warning about a risk of death ahead of a freezing killer cold snap this week – fresh weather warnings have been issued for ice across much of the country
20:52, 02 Jan 2025Updated 20:54, 02 Jan 2025
Experts warn the worst is yet to come(Image: Getty Images)
Britain is facing a killer cold snap as snow bombards the nation and experts warn of a risk of death.
Fresh weather warnings have been issued for ice across much of the country ahead of a blast of snow over the weekend. The yellow Met Office warning says there could be icy surfaces in northern and western Scotland, the north west of England and Northern Ireland.
Temperatures could fall as low as -8C. The warning is in place until 10am on Friday and could make for difficult travelling conditions, the forecaster warned.
Should have stayed indoors(Image: Getty Images)
But experts warn the worst is yet to come and it could be deadly to the elderly in particular. Forecasters are predicting snow this weekend as the mercury goes sub-zero.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the cold snap will be a problem for older Britons as a charity criticised the Government’s decision to limit winter fuel payments.
The UKHSA has issued cold weather health alerts for all of England until January 8, meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely.
Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the Government’s decision to limit the winter fuel allowance to only the poorest pensioners will be put “into sharp relief” by the cold snap.
Ms Abrahams said the charity had already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived”.
Age UK director Caroline Abrahams the poorest pensioners will be put “into sharp relief” by the cold snap(Image: Getty Images)
From this winter, only people on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive the winter fuel payments while more than nine million others are set to be stripped of the allowance.
“We urge older people to do everything they can to stay warm, even if that means risking spending more on their heating than they feel they can afford,” the charity director said.
“The energy companies are under an obligation to help if you are struggling and there may be support available from your local council too.”
A yellow warning is in place from noon on Saturday until 9am on Monday and covers all regions of England other than the South West, the majority of Wales and parts of southern Scotland.
About 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales and northern England, with as much as 20-30cm over high ground in Wales and the Pennines, the forecaster added.
Strong winds could lead to snow drifts in some areas, and freezing rain as temperatures creep up could add to the risk of ice.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “At the moment we’ve issued a very large snow warning for Saturday until Monday but it doesn’t mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.”
Today, London councils activated an emergency accommodation protocol for people sleeping rough in freezing conditions.
The emergency measures, which will see extra beds made available, have been active for three nights so far this winter.
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