Arctic blast: Health and social care sector in West Midlands on alert as cold weather warning issued

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a number of yellow alerts covering much of England in advance of the arrival of a 'notable early winter cold spell'.

UKHSA alerts provide alerts for hospital and the health sector because the cold leads to the increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people who have a greater risk to life.

The alert will come into effect from 9pm on Sunday, November 17 and will be in force until 9pm on Thursday, November 21.

Weather forecasters at the Met Office have issued a number of their own alerts but as of Friday evening the West Midlands region was not covered by any.

Rebekah Hicks, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “A notable early winter cold spell will arrive across the north from Sunday and will likely reach all parts of the UK by midweek.

“Temperatures will drop as a northerly airflow develops, bringing in colder Arctic air.

“This introduces the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.

“As the cold air spreads south, wintry weather is possible more widely, and a snow and ice warning has already been issued for parts of Scotland and Northern England for early next week.

“Updates to the warnings for wintry hazards are likely, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”