The Met Office has issued a severe cold weather warning highlighting concerns about the temperature until mid-afternoon on Friday (2 December).
The official forecaster said: “There is an 80 per cent probability of severe cold weather between 9pm on Monday 28 November and 3pm on Friday 2 December.
“This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.
“High pressure will bring generally dry and settled conditions through this period, with clear skies and light winds allowing a widespread moderate frost to occur.
“From Wednesday onwards cloudier and slightly less cold conditions will arrive across northern England, therefore overnight frosts become fewer and less severe, and the trigger criteria are unlikely to be met across northern areas, while perhaps persisting further south until almost the end of the forecast period.
“This is an important stage for social and health care services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential period of cold weather.
“Prolonged periods of cold weather can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases.”
For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/winterhealth.
