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Hot weather: How do the new heat-health alerts work? Cold weather: How do cold-health alerts work?
(3 months later)
Heat-health alerts have been issued across all of England, as temperatures are expected to rise towards 32C (89.6F). The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber cold-health alert for the whole of England, meaning it expects the NHS to see increased demand as a result of the weather.
The alert service warns the public when high temperatures could damage their health. The weather alert service warns the public when high or low temperatures could damage their health.
How does the heat health alert system work? How does the weather health alert system work?
Run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, the heat-health alert system (HHA) was introduced in June 2023. Run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, the weather health alert system for England was introduced in June 2023.
It issues warnings to members of the public and sends guidance directly to NHS England, the government and other healthcare professionals. It includes both heat-health alerts (HHA) and cold-health alerts (CHA).
The alerts are categorised according to severity and include: Cold-health alerts are typically issued between 1 November and 30 March and heat-health alerts between 1 June and 30 September.
The system issues warnings to members of the public and sends guidance directly to NHS England, the government and other healthcare professionals during periods of adverse weather.
Alerts are categorised according to severity and include:
headline weather conditions expected in the coming daysheadline weather conditions expected in the coming days
details of how weather conditions will affect each regiondetails of how weather conditions will affect each region
links to additional information, advice and guidance.links to additional information, advice and guidance.
Last year was the UK's warmest, with Coningsby in Lincolnshire reaching a record 40.3C on 19 July 2022. The system was designed to help reduce illness and deaths by improving communication between the public and relevant bodies during periods of extreme weather.
The hottest 10 years on record have all taken place in the last two decade, and the Met Office predicts 2023 will be hotter than 2022. Cold weather and health guidance and advice
It is hoped the system will help reduce illness and deaths. Hot weather and health guidance and advice
Dr Matt Patterson at the University of Oxford told the BBC: "The HHA is a tool to better communicate upcoming risks to decision-makers in the health service and to allow them to prepare". See current weather-health alerts
"The UK is going to continue to warm as the world continues to burn fossil fuels. We need to update our infrastructure to help people cope with our warming climate," he said. Sign up to receive alerts
A report by the independent Committee on Climate Change said that England was not ready for the unavoidable impacts of global warming.
What does hot weather do to the body?
10 tips for sleeping in hot weather
Six ways to keep your home cool
What does each level mean?What does each level mean?
The level of alert is based on Met Office forecasts and data.The level of alert is based on Met Office forecasts and data.
There are four levels ranging from green (least severe) to red (most severe):There are four levels ranging from green (least severe) to red (most severe):
GreenGreen
Green is the normal level, when advice is given on how people should prepare to respond if temperatures rise. Green is the normal level, when advice is given on how people should prepare to respond if temperatures rise or fall.
YellowYellow
Yellow alerts are issued during periods of hot weather that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, for example, the elderly or those with existing health conditions. Yellow alerts are issued during periods of hot or cold weather that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, for example, the elderly or those with existing health conditions.
AmberAmber
Amber alerts are issued in situations that could potentially put the whole population at risk. The NHS may see increased demand on GPs and ambulances, for example.Amber alerts are issued in situations that could potentially put the whole population at risk. The NHS may see increased demand on GPs and ambulances, for example.
Travel disruption would also be likely. Travel disruption is also likely.
RedRed
A red alert is the most severe.A red alert is the most severe.
It is issued in situations where the hot weather would be a significant risk to life for even the healthy population and could lead to failures of critical national infrastructure, such as power outages or roads and rail lines being closed. It is issued in situations when hot or cold weather would be a significant risk to life, for even the healthy population, and could lead to failures of critical national infrastructure, such as power outages or roads and rail lines being closed.
If the alert system had been in place when the UK hit 40C in 2022, there would probably have been an alert in this category. Which areas are covered by the latest cold-health alert?
Is the UK getting hotter? On 14 January, the existing yellow cold-health alerts issued by the UKHSA were upgraded to amber across all regions of England:
How climate change affects heatwaves and wildfires the North West
Which areas are covered by the latest alert? the North East
Yellow warnings in eight English regions were upgraded to amber on Tuesday, which will remain until Sunday: Yorkshire and the Humber
London the East
West Midlands
East Midlands
the South Eastthe South East
the South Westthe South West
the East Midlands London
the West Midlands The UKHSA said that the cold weather "can rapidly have a serious impact on the health of those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions".
the East "It increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections," warned Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA.
the North West The amber alert will remain in place until noon on Friday 19 January.
Yorkshire and Humber Separately, the Met Office has also issued yellow warnings for snow and ice for Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of northern England and north Wales.
A yellow warning remains in the North East. National Highways also issued a severe weather alert for the north west of England.
Hot conditions are also expected in Wales, while parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland could see "unseasonably high temperatures". What does an unheated room do to your body?
How can I sign up for alerts? What are cold weather payments and who gets them?
You can sign up to receive both heat-health alerts and cold-health alerts on the UKHSA website. How to drive in snow and icy weather
The best way to de-ice a car and other winter tips
Find out the weather forecast for your area, with an hourly breakdown and a 14-day lookahead, by downloading the BBC Weather app: Apple - Android - Amazon
The BBC Weather app is only available to download in the UK.
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