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England will be so cold this week a health warning has been issued for entire country
Temperatures are forecast to drop from today.
A cold weather warning has been issued as snow and icy conditions are due to hit the UK from today.
The UK Health Security Agency are urging people to keep warm and to look out for those most at risk from the cold weather after plummeting temperatures triggered an alert, and yellow warnings for snow and ice were put in place by the Met Office on Sunday.
Pensioners and those with pre-existing medical conditions have been advised to heat their home to 18°C, although some Government experts have acknowledged that this isn’t possible for all due to the rising costs of energy bills.
The nation will endure four days of cold weather from early Tuesday morning through to 9am on Friday January 20th, forecasters have cautioned.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly older people and those with pre-existing health conditions, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
“During this period, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18°C if you can.”
Temperatures are ‘well below average for the time of year’, and transport chaos could be sparked by the ice.
Jason Kelly, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Cold, icy and sometimes snowy conditions are in the forecast this week with the UK seeing more of a north-westerly regime, with temperatures well below average for the time of year.
“Wintry showers are likely at points through the week in the north of England.
“Warnings have been issued and ice is likely to be a hazard for much of the week with some tricky travel conditions possible.
“Maximum temperatures will largely only reach the low single figures with temperatures below freezing through most nights this week.”
It comes after wintry conditions moved in from the Arctic over the weekend, and an overnight low of -9.1C was recorded at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands, the Met Office said.