Public health bosses are expecting a rise in deaths from cold in the UK, amid warnings of heavy snow and ice weather over the next five days.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an email aimed at social care of Englandsaying vulnerable people are at risk as farmers head into the weekend for heavy snow and ice.
The Met Office’s five-day yellow warnings are in place, starting with snow and ice warnings from the Shetland Islands to Derby and Nottingham, including North Wales and Northern Ireland.
From Saturday, these blanket warnings of heavy snow are in place across England, Wales and parts of the south Scotlandwhich will remain in place until Monday morning.
About 5cm of snow is expected across the Mediterranean; Cambria and in northern England, with as much as 20-30cm over high ground in Wales and the Pennines, according to forecasters.
A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with underlying health conditions, was likely, UKHSA said.
Some will have challenges maintaining indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C, leading to an increased risk of injuring people.
Alms were said that some old people who did not give food for the winter would find it difficult to supply the government. Age UK’s director, Caroline Abrahams, said the charity had already been contacted by some who were “worried about what to do when this moment came”. She said: “We encourage the elderly to do whatever they can to stay warm, even if that means risking more heat than they feel they can afford.”
The Met Office also warned that there would be small power cuts, vehicles stranded, train and travel canceled and some rural communities blocked due to road closures.
The icy forecast comes amid flooding that has damaged homes and trapped cars in fast-rising water.
A major event has been declared Greater Manchester New Year’s Day, as hundreds of people were released, including from asylum seekers to hotel housing and log cabins in the plains, where residents have become trapped.
The incident calmed down on Thursday afternoon, when almost 1,000 people were rescued and efforts by emergency services turned to recovery. Firefighters, police officers and mountain rescuers were involved in rescue efforts, with almost half of the people rescued by boat.
Major train lines were also flooded and canal banks in Chester collapsed due to rising flood water.
There were a total of a dozen flood warnings in England on Thursday morning, mainly in the West and North I will eat. It is added over 53 floodplains where flooding is possible, from the Tina and Gerar coast to Seaford, from the east coast of Sussex, and from Shallow in the west to the coast of Suffolk.
A flood warning for Ness-side, near Inverness, Scotland, has also remained in place after days of rain and wind which led to the cancellation of the Hogmanay event, including an Edinburgh street party.
Roads and travel were disrupted in many parts of Scotland on Thursday, with no emergency services at two railway forts in the Highlands, when heavy rain led to torrential rain and flooding.
It also warned of difficult driving conditions across the country, with some roads already closed due to snow.
For repeated wintry weather, the Met Office and National Rail have issued warnings to plan ahead. Difficult operating conditions should be expected, especially in areas under a yellow weather warning. Allowing extra time is advised when delays, diversions or obstructed conditions are likely to be in the way of users.
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Passengers on public transport have been warned that there are no stoppages and services to check before traveling for delays or cancellations.
National Rail said the weak weather would affect trains running across Great Britain, including the Northern Express, TransPennine; Transport All services to Wales and ScotRail are affected.
Two of the new flood warnings were issued before 6am on Thursday, when water levels on the lower River Wharfe system in Yorkshire and the lower River Ure in North Yorkshire were brought down. Both river systems and surrounding tributaries were at risk of flooding.
The most dangerous areas within the lower River Ure system include low-lying land such as agriculture and roads in the areas of Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton. On the Lower River Wharfe, areas at risk of flooding extended from Otley to the River Ulleskelf, including Tadcaster.
There was no more significant rain in the area Thursday and water levels were expected to begin falling in the afternoon and evening. People were advised not to use low-lying roads or bridges near any watercourses, and not to attempt to wade, drive or cycle through floodwaters.
In BristolA severe weather emergency protocol has been launched by the city council and St Mungo’s shelter charity, and will run until January 8. Shifts will be multiplied and accommodation more readily available, with the aim of ensuring that no one sleeps on the streets during such extreme weather conditions.
London councils have also launched an emergency accommodation protocol for people sleeping rough in freezing conditions, which will be available outside beds. This emergency plan only lasted three nights in the city this winter.
Tom Morgan, Meteorologist Meteorologist, said: “At the time we issued a very large snow warning for Saturday until Monday, but it does not mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s only the head there. It could be something to engage.”
Separately, the Met Office said 2024 would be the UK’s hottest year on record, with senior weather scientist Mike Kendon saying it was another “clear example that our climate is changing now”.
Additional reports from PA