The UK is bracing for a cold and wintry start to the new year as the Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across parts of Scotland, while health authorities have activated amber and yellow cold health alerts for large parts of England. Arctic air and strong northerly winds are set to bring widespread frost, snow and freezing temperatures from New Year's Day through at least the first week of January 2026.
The Met Office's yellow warning covers Scotland north of the central belt from 6am on New Year's Day until midnight on January 2. Forecasters predict around 10cm of snow accumulation by Friday morning in some areas, with up to 30cm possible on the highest roads and hills. Strong, potentially gale-force northerly winds will accompany the snowfall.
Mark Sidaway, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: «It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of 'winter' as we welcome in the new year, initially in the north but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.» He added: «Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds.»
Temperatures are expected to plummet across the country. Parts of Scotland could see lows of -12C, while Wales and northern England may drop to -7C inland. Under the amber health alerts for North East and North West England, temperatures are forecast to fall to 3-5C.
Health and travel disruption
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold health alerts for the North East and North West of England, valid until noon on January 5. Yellow cold health alerts cover London, the East, South East, South West England, the Midlands and Yorkshire. The amber warnings indicate the weather is «likely» to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a «rise in deaths» among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged people to check on vulnerable individuals: «The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.»
The Met Office warned that significant drifting of snow is likely given the strength of the wind. «Lightning may well be an additional hazard,» the warning stated. Predicted impacts include stranded passengers and vehicles, delayed or cancelled transport, and rural communities potentially being cut off.
Extended cold spell ahead
Sidaway emphasized the duration of the cold spell: «Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.» He noted that colder conditions and wintry hazards will develop more widely entering the new year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely.
The cold spell is expected to last through at least the first week of January. «It's important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings,» Sidaway said.
Georgie Myers, senior Met Office press officer, explained the transition: «It's going to be a cold start to the new year and we've got a snow and ice warning issued, so there's going to be a transition to much more unsettled and wintry conditions into the new year.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
