Key facts
- The alert covers the North West and West Midlands regions of England, the UKHSA said.
- The yellow alert runs from 9am on Thursday, November 12 until 12pm on Saturday, November 14.
- UKHSA said other regions of England are currently unaffected by the alert.
- UKHSA said yellow alerts cover periods unlikely to affect most people but which could affect vulnerable groups.
- Dr Anya Gopfert, a consultant in public health at UKHSA, said more cold-health alerts can be expected this season.
The UK Health Security Agency issued a yellow cold-health alert for the North West and West Midlands on November 11, 2026, the first cold-health alert of the 2026/27 winter season. The alert runs from 9am on Thursday, November 12 until 12pm on Saturday, November 14, and other regions of England are unaffected, the agency said.
Under the Weather Health Alerting system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, yellow cold-health alerts may be issued during periods of heat or cold that would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable. UKHSA said low temperatures can increase use of health care services by vulnerable people and raise health risks for people aged 65 and over, those with pre-existing conditions including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and groups such as those sleeping rough.
Dr Anya Gopfert, a consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: "This is the first cold-health alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season." She said it was vital to check on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable, and that keeping homes heated where possible and dressing warmly can help people stay safe. UKHSA said it published guidance for professionals protecting vulnerable people and for the public on staying safe in cold weather.
The agency said the cold-health alerts focus on health impacts for vulnerable groups in England and help health and social care services prepare, while the National Severe Weather Warning Service provides broader warnings on severe weather risks across the UK.