Temperatures are set to plummet this week as freezing cold winds blow chilly northern air across the country. The Met Office has issued a level three cold weather alert for the whole of England starting at 6pm on Wednesday evening, and extends through the weekend till Monday, December 12 at 9am.
The meteorological office has also issued seperate regional yellow warnings for snow and ice across parts of the UK, notably along the eastern coast of England, northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, most of Wales, and the northern parts of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. These weather warnings, in place between Wednesday and Friday, do not extend to Bristol.
From tonight, temperatures will begin to drop dramatically across the county, with some areas falling below an icy -10C.
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Over the next few days, Bristol will see temperatures as low as -3C, reaching -4C at night. Daytime weather in the sunshine will lay somewhere around two or three degrees and, while no snow is predicting in the next few days, there is a fog notice for much of Sunday, potentially extending into Monday morning.
As the cold weather hits, elderly and vulnerable people, particularly those with heart conditions, are likely to be more affected by the cold weather. The NHS also states that babies and children under five, pregnant people, people on a lower income, and people with long-term health conditions are also vulnerable to the cold.
The NHS advises people to seek help as soon as you start to feel unwell if you are in one of these groups. The website explains: "You can get help and advice from:
- a pharmacy – pharmacists can give treatment advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor
- your GP – you may be able to speak to a GP online or over the phone, or go in for an appointment if they think you need to
- NHS 111 – go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do
"The sooner you get advice, the sooner you're likely to get better."
Dr Agostinho Sousa, a consultant in public health medicine at UKHSA, told The Guardian : “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. In rooms you mostly use, such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if you can.
"Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.”
The NHS also advises to keep warm if you can, saying: "Keeping warm over the winter months can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.
"Make sure you're getting all the help that you're entitled to. There are grants, benefits and advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills."
While this may prove difficult for many in the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has seen energy bills soar over the last few months, you may be entitled to help paying for the bills. While the government granted households £400 off their energy bills, Citizen's Advice has compiled a list of help you may be entitled to. For a complete guide, visit their website.
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