A cold weather alert has been issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) amid warnings of freezing conditions set to hit the UK this weekend.
Low temperatures and overnight frosts are forecast across all regions of England from Sunday February 5 up to Tuesday February 7, with the UKHSA encouraging people to stay warm and look out for those who are at high risk from the effects of cold weather.
A cold weather health watch operates in England every year from November 1 to March 31. The system comprises of five levels of response based on cold weather thresholds which have been developed to trigger an alert when severe cold weather is likely to significantly affect people's health.
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The Met Office has now issued a Level 2 alert and warns that there is a 60 percent probability of severe cold weather between 6pm on Sunday, February 5 and 6pm on Tuesday, February 7 in parts of England.
The national weather service says that this could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.
The Met Office says: "Long clear spells overnight will allow temperatures to fall below freezing, with a widespread frost developing across England.
"Temperatures likely recovering during the day to near average for the time of year, but fall quickly into the evenings. Remaining dry throughout. There is low confidence currently regarding the longevity of the cold conditions from Tuesday.
"Cold nights and possible frost still possible across the south, with cloudier conditions becoming more likely across northern areas."
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at UKHSA, warned: "Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, with older people and those with heart or lung conditions particularly at risk.
"It’s important to check in on family, friends and relatives who are 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."
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